Hate has no home in Brattleboro, Vt.

A call to action

by Lise Sparrow

July 15, 2008 | Brattleboro Reformer | Brattleboro, Vermont

Why did the interfaith association cancel the Wednesday Night Conversation on Race this week? The short answer to the question is that we want to hold the next meeting at the Boys and Girls Club, to speak directly to the youth who have been harassed, and to hear their stories and invite their perspectives. That will still happen, but not for a week or two when we can do it right.

A longer answer might involve looking back at the past three weeks. A hate group was discovered by a teacher at the high school. The principals responded within 24 hours with a message over the loudspeaker to all students. That message was distributed in writing to parents and over BCTV that same day. The principal also called a meeting of teachers to share information and perspectives. The restorative justice team held a meeting with the students who had established the hate-group and their parents, some teachers and principals. Hours after the students expressed remorse they harassed and threatened other African American students at the Transportation Center. The police responded quickly and made one arrest and are seeking information to make another possible.

As the people who were immediately involved did what they were called to do, members of the community rallied to find out more information, to encourage accountability and to seek understanding of how such a thing could have happened. One immediate opportunity for this to take place was an already scheduled Conversation on Race sponsored by the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Clergy Association (BAICA). Curtiss Reed, Jr., executive director of ALANA, offered to be present at the first meeting, held June 18. Chief of police Eugene Wrinn, was also present to show support and share information, as were five clergy and four teachers, one student and many parents. At the close of the meeting it was determined that a letter to the schoolboard was in order, a letter which was published July 2 in the Reformer and other local publications.

There were two meetings the following week: the second of the Wednesday Conversations on Race and another was planned by Mike Szostak, and Junie Pereira, coordinators of restorative justice at the high school. The result of the Wednesday meeting, besides the shared information and increasing concern for collaborative action, was the decision to support the ALANA entry in the Fourth of July Parade. Some 150 citizens, mostly representatives of the faith communities, but also from the Brattleboro Selectboard, marched behind the main banner with the ALANA slogan, "Hate has no home here." Most of the BUHS marching band which followed the ALANA group put bumper stickers with the same slogan in their backs.

The meeting on July 26 provided many members of the community, especially people of color and teachers, a chance to share their hopes, fears and concerns. Over 170 people attended this meeting and 40 volunteered to serve on the task forces which will be organized in August.

By the time we convened the third Wednesday Conversation on Race, on July 2, Ron Stahley, the Superintendent of Schools, had invited Charles Johnson, the Vermont State Safe Schools Coordinator, Principal Jim Day, Mike Szostak and Diana Wahle of the Alliance for Building Community to meet with Barbro Hansson, of the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church and myself to share information and consider recommendations for actions made to the Supervisory Union to improve the diversity education for student and staff at local schools. Later that same day, Wahle and Konstantin von Krusenstiern of United Way held a meeting to coordinate the various social service agencies to share strategies and plans for keeping children both in and out of town activities safe.

I hope this makes clear the extent to which many, many concerned people have taken seriously these recent occurrences and are working to develop strategies across the community to root out racism and harassment and that we have a long road ahead. We have the immediate challenge of keeping kids safe over the summer. We have the challenge of the start of school in the fall and of having teachers and school officials prepared and ready to manage a significant change in the school culture. And we all have a long-term interest in finding ways for the community at large to be involved in facing up to the racism which exists here and in helping find ways to foster more tolerant and appreciative relations among us.

At this point no one group can manage the information or the process. The police are taking seriously the imperative to hold perpetrators accountable for their hate crimes. The schools are researching ways to address issues raised by the differences among students and assure restorative justice. Social Services are coordinating their efforts with the state and faith communities and there are hundreds of people ready to serve in a variety of capacities, on task forces, and study circles. If you are one of these people, please be sure Diane Wahle () has your e-mail or phone number.

As for the next Wednesday Conversation, we will meet at the Boys and Girls Club at a time to be arranged to hear voices we haven't yet heard much: the voices of the kids who are harassed. It is time to listen and to deepen our understanding of what it is like to be young and in Brattleboro.

We hope you will attend the next meeting but, whether you do or don't, please keep in mind that there are children and teenagers all around us, with voices and opinions that we need to hear. You can show them their opinions and actions matter. You can ask questions, listen to their opinions, support or challenge their attitudes. We are told that often acts of hatred rise from isolation and desperation and it is agonizing to believe any young person in out town should be that desperate.

As exhilarating as it was to see 150 people march in a parade in solidarity with ALANA, think how much more heartening it would be to know that in homes all across the region adults and kids were talking together about what happened and why and then about how to make our community one which respects and holds everyone dear.

"Small groups of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead

Lise Sparrow is the mother of four children, pastor of the Guilford Community Church, U.C.C. and co-chairman of the Brattleboro Area Clergy Association.

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