AMHERST — In response to a racist letter disseminated in a neighborhood last week, four members of the Town Council are calling for greater investment in real programs and places in town that will offer support to Amherst’s Black and brown residents.
In a joint statement at the beginning of Monday’s meeting, At Large Councilor Ellisha Walker, District 3 Councilor Hala Heather Lord, District 2 Councilor Amber Cano-Martin and District 1 Councilor Jill Brevik said they would speak directly to residents affected by the contents of the letters that were received April 29.
“First, we must be clear that harm was done, and not just abstract harm, but real fear, real pain, real retraumatization for our members of the community, particularly Black and brown residents, and those of African descent,” Lord said.
Lord called the letter as fitting into a pattern of everyday experiences, including microaggressions and exclusions and ways in which systems show up or don’t show up for people.
Police responded and spoke to seven residents who received the letter, which was addressed to “Amherst Residents” and signed by an organization referred to as the “Advancement of American Civilization.” The group has not been identified locally or in any national tracking of hate groups.
The town issued a statement on Friday reading, “We remain committed to ensuring all members of our community feel welcomed, accepted and celebrated in Amherst. “
Lord, though, said values alone are not enough, when there are questions about whether people feel safe or actually are safe.
Brevik said the council has discussed creation of a youth center for Black, Indigenous and people of color and a multicultural center, and expansion of the Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service, the unarmed police alternative. The letters demonstrate why these remain critical for the town.
“This is why, because safety is not just the absence of violence, it is the presence of support, resources and systems that people trust,” Brevik said, noting that if a resident feels targeted, unsafe or threatened, there is question about whether CRESS will be available.
Cano-Martin said the Town Council has a responsibility to people living in the community, to offer more than just words, and the moment can’t end with just a statement released by Town Hall.
“We cannot continue to celebrate ourselves as a progressive community without confronting the gaps between our intentions and actual impact,” Cano-Martin said.
Walker said the request is to “invest in real tangible ways in the spaces, programs and systems, that our residents can actually use.”
She also said the town manager needs to get more details and continue updates on the police investigation.
“Right now we are asking people to navigate fear without understanding what systems are in place,” Walker said, adding that councilors must continue to listen to the lived experience of those in the community.
“We see this moment as a preface to the actions that the council must take,” Walker said.
