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Vol.29, No.26
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Friday, June 26, 2020
City says Hail to the former Chief Community confronts racism in Revere By Barbara Taormina
R
evere will rally against racism on Friday, June 26, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Organized by Moroccan American Connections In Revere (MACIR), the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects (AICP), and the youth organizers of the Revere Black Lives Matter march, the rally is being held in response to a recent racially motivated act of vandalism. Early on June 11, police were called to Lantern Road, where they found swastikas sprayCITY SUPPORT — Shown from left to right are, Council Vice President/Ward 2 Councillor Ira Nopainted on four sides of a car bevoselsky, Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, Council President/Ward 4 Councillor Patrick Keefe, longing to a local Muslim family. retiring Police Chief James Guido, Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna, Ward 3 Councillor Arthur Nearby, the words “white powGuinasso, Councillor-at-Large Steven Morabito, Ward 6 Councillor Richard Serino, School Comer” were spray-painted on the mittee member Anthony D’Ambrosio, and Mayor Brian Arrigo. See pages 6 for photo highlights. street. Police are investigating, (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) and the FBI, the civil rights division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office have been asked to assist with the case. By Barbara Taormina Over the weekend, Mayor Brian Arrigo said hate will not be alespite concerns about cost lowed in the city in a statement and public perception, the responding to the crime.“Those City Council seemed inclined who are responsible have no to support Ward 1 Councillor place here – they do not repreJoanne McKenna’s proposal to sent our people or the strong provide security for the council community of immigrants and once City Hall reopens and live diversity of people in race, culmeetings return to the Revere ture and gender identity and we City Council Chambers. must continue our work togethMcKenna introduced her proer toward an anti-racist Revere,” posal and followed up with a said Arrigo. story about a Revere resident At their meeting last Monday, who threatened Boston Mayor JOANNE McKENNA city councillors joined togethMarty Walsh and Governor CharWard 1 Councillor er to support Ward 6 Councillie Baker in a post on his FaceRICHARD SERINO lor Richard Serino’s motion that in place at the Statehouse, in book page. “The incident was Ward 6 Councillor condemned the hate crime and so serious, police tracked him schools and in other public and down and now he’s in jail,” said civic buildings, she said. “After McKenna, adding that a securi- called on the community to hours in City Hall anyone can ty guard or police officer could stand up and denounce atroMcKenna. cious acts of racism. “I was sick Security measures – such as come upstairs, and there’s no keep the council safe. “I know this has been said be- to my stomach when I saw what metal detectors, check-in points stopping them if they want to and identification checks – are take some kind of action,” said fore, but we were in different circumstances then,” said McKenna.“Now we are in serious times. Ward 6 Councillor Richard Serino, who co-sponsored the proposal, works at the Statehouse, and he is grateful for the security in that building.“We live in a really messed up world,”said GALLON Serino. “In 2020 we should have We accept: MasterCard * Visa * a security guard or an armed po& Discover lice officer for the council bePrice Subject to Change cause crazy things can happen, without notice and if they can be prevented, 100 Gal. Min. they should be.”
Councillors call for muscle at meetings
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took place on Lantern Road in my ward,”said Serino.“Sadly, racism is alive and well in Revere.” Serino said residents need to recognize that racism is a problem in the city. “We need to call it out when we see it, and heal the divisions within our city,” he added. City Council President Patrick Keefe asked anyone who might have video footage of the area to share it with police to help with the investigation. “This shames us all, and it’s not something we want to be associated with,” he said. Councillor-at-Large Jessica Giannino said she was appalled when she saw photos of the vandalism. “I agree with Councillor Serino that the first thing we need to do is acknowledge there is a problem in our city,” said Giannino, adding that Revere’s young people have been focusing attention on racism within the city. City Council Vice President Ira Novoselsky said the despicable act of hate targeted toward a Muslim family had a profound effect on his family, who are descendants of victims who were murdered in gas chambers by the Nazis. “I know what hatred and evil are; I know what prejudice is, and I have chosen to live my life fighting against hatred,”said Novoselsky, who questioned when the hate and evil will stop and when will people
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