Holyoke candidates speak out against racist messages on campaign boards

[ad_1]

HOLYOKE Two Latino election candidates speak out after racist messages were found written on the back of their campaign signs at a busy intersection in town.

Israel Rivera, a candidate for a city council seat, and Joshua Garcia, a mayoral candidate, came out earlier this week to denounce the vandalized signs uncovered a week earlier. In interviews, both candidates said they debated whether to draw attention to the incident. Ultimately, they said they decided to publicly condemn the racism directed against them and their communities.

Whether you live in West Holyoke or South Holyoke, the person who wrote this is talking about our neighbors and our city, Garcia said. And what we really need to do is connect as neighbors and as a community and support our neighbors and say the world is not going to support it.

Rivera initially said he didn’t want to pay more attention to racist posts, but he didn’t want to sweep the incident under the rug either.

I thought it was going to be more personal, and when I finally saw it and realized what it was, I realized it was technically not a shot at me personally, did -he declares. It was a bigger blow to the community and to the community that I represent. And that’s what offended me the most.

Rivera said a friend discovered the signs at the corner of Northampton and Beech streets and removed them. The racist messages were written on two billboards attached to the backs of two lawn boards supporting Garcia and Rivera, and sought to blame minorities for Holyokes’ problems.

Garcia said in a public statement about the incident that these kinds of thoughts are more prevalent in Holyoke than many would like to admit, and that he was running to bring the community together. He said the city cannot be expected to stamp out these kinds of beliefs with the same leadership the city has had for years.

The lack of concern, investment and priority for some communities year after year allows that mindset to fester and grow, he said. We were specifically targeted out of fear that under new leadership we as a community would connect, build and grow together and not be divided between the new and the old or black / brown and white.

Rivera also said he would use the incident to fuel his desire to unite Holyoke.

Garcia is currently the administrator of the city of Blandford. Rivera is responsible for the area studies program at UMass Amherst. Both are longtime residents of Holyoke.

Several other mayoral candidates and candidates for general city council seats have taken to social media to post statements condemning the racist posts.

The constant silence of some white leaders on the racial issue is deafening, general candidate Jos Luis Maldonado Velez wrote on social media. Silence is violence and I have finished hearing that xxx is not racist. If they are not, they should have no problem speaking out against this clearly racist attack, not only against two of our Latino candidates, but against 52% of our city’s population.

Mayoral candidates Rebecca Lisi, current general councilor, and William Glidden, former deputy mayor and writer, also denounced the racist messages.

That is exactly what is at stake in this election, Lisi wrote. Will Holyoke elect a leader who looks away when hateful and racist comments are made, or someone who can tackle the issue head-on? For my part, I can say that I am proud of my record to speak directly about race issues. I will always strive to communicate an understanding of the institutional nature of race and the political interventions needed to address racism in our community.

Glidden said he felt lucky to share Holyoke with Garcia and Rivera, and the racist posts would do nothing to slow them down.

It should remind us, however, of the work that remains to be done to confront these toxic beliefs and build true solidarity among the people of Holyoke, he wrote. The future we want can only be built together.

Dusty Christensen can be contacted at [email protected].

[ad_2]