Describe symbolism in Angela Davis by Angela Y. Davis

From the text:

"George was a symbol of the will of all of us behind bars, and of that strength which oppressed people always seem to be able to pull together. Even when we think the enemy has stripped us of everything, left us bereft even of our souls. The strength that comes out of an almost biological need to feel that we have something to say about the direction of our lives. That need had gnawed at George, behind bars all of his adult life and, what was most important, he had known how to give the clearest, most universal expression to that need, and his writings had aroused people all over the world."