To Not Condemn is to Condone
The following is my recent LTE in the Record Journal. The protest itself was a truly outstanding event thanks to its organizers, and the counter-protesters failed to minimize that. However, it is still our responsibility to call out those who sought to disrupt this powerful message, as well as those individuals who did not use their own voices to condemn these actions.
Last Saturday was an inspiring display of solidarity outside of Wallingford’s Town Hall, as our community rallied behind a group of brave Asian-Americans who shared their personal experiences with hate.
While I commend Mayor Dickinson for attending, it is what he did not say that bothers me. When he began to speak, several pickups full of counter-protestors disrupted proceedings by revving their engines and yelling profanities.
There was no ambiguity about who these people were, they proudly flew their Trump flags, and yet the mayor continued with his prepared speech as if nothing was happening. As the local leader of the Republican Party for almost four decades, it is Dickinson’s moral obligation to condemn these acts for what they are — acts of hate — but when handed the opportunity to directly address these fringe members of his own party, he did nothing.
I do not believe these individuals represent the majority of Republicans or even the majority of Trump voters, but silence from elected officials is precisely what gives them the confidence to commit these brazen acts of bigotry.
For an example of how a leader should rise to the occasion, look no further than the response of William Tong, state Attorney General. The agitators returned during his speech, but rather than ignore them, Tong acknowledged what had occurred. He condemned their actions without hesitation, reflecting on how the moment serves as a poignant reminder of what it is like to be a minority everyday.
While a rebuke from Mayor Dickinson may now be too little too late, it would still be better than silence. Given the last 38 years of silence, however, I will not hold my breath. Instead, I draw hope from the courage displayed by the event’s young organizers, and their demands for a better future.
