AMHERST — Representatives from the four communities that make up the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District are offering their support to the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement.
Members of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, Amherst School Committee and the Union 26 School Committee on Thursday voted unanimously to support a resolution endorsing the objectives of Black Lives Matter.
Amherst member Heather Lord, who drafted the language with fellow Amherst member Kerry Spitzer, said the idea is to make sure that the four regional towns, — Amherst, Pelham, Shutesbury and Leverett — are moving toward a public school system that is inclusive, equitable and just for all students, and which values all lives.
“Lifting up black lives is the very thing that will create the shift so that all lives will matter,” Lord said.
The resolution states that the committees are mourning for those black individuals who have died at the hands of police, including George Floyd, who was killed by an officer in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.
“We take a stand against the systemic profiling, harassment, assault and killing of black people,” the resolution states.
The resolution also reaffirms a commitment to a school improvement plan that includes increasing and maintaining staff diversity and strengthening institutions to respect cultural identities of students of color while dismantling white supremacy in the school system.
“I’m proud to be part of this body with that statement,” Amherst representative Ben Herrington said.
Amherst representative Peter Demling said it is important to have the sentiments written and articulated, and to discuss the topic without hesitation, even if some of the terms embedded, such as white supremacy, may make some people uncomfortable.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
