Grafton Select Board: Words and acts of bigotry are ‘destructive of community’
A second attempt at an anti-bigotry resolution passed the Select Board Tuesday after both members Andy Jefferson and Ray Mead submitted dueling rewrites.
Jefferson’s original resolution was submitted last week, spurred on by the timing of the town’s first celebration of Juneteenth and a resident’s recent request to take a stand against racism. Mead had argued that the move would put the Select Board in the position of being the speech police.
Both versions removed verbiage calling for residents, employers, and places of worship“to condemn and stand against racism, discrimination, and hatred and to support, foster and encourage a community spirit that reflects trust and respect for all.”
After some back-and-forth about the specifics of both resolutions, Jefferson compromised and agreed to a slightly revised version of Mead’s decree, which specifies that it comes from the Grafton Select Board of 2022. Presumably, future boards may approve this or other versions.
The final wording:
WHEREAS:
- A strong, healthy, sustainable community includes and embraces people of every color, race, ethnicity, creed, ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity; and
- Words and acts of racism, discrimination, and hatred can be both intentional and unintentional, but either way such words are destructive of community; and
- Community effort is required to combat racism, discrimination, and bigotry.
NOW, THEREFORE, we the Grafton Select Board of 2022 promise:
- Stand against racism, discrimination, and hatred; and
- Acknowledge that all communities can do better to embrace, support, and lift people who are discriminated against and marginalized; and
- Embrace diversity, equity, inclusiveness, and justice for everyone in our community
FURTHER, WE DO HEREBY call on elected or appointed officials in our community to engage in similar commitments to condemn and stand against racism, discrimination, and hatred and to support, foster and encourage a community spirit that reflects trust and respect for all.
Let it also be noted that the finished version is a bit longer than the single paragraph Mead originally suggested would be needed.
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