Peirce Field filled
He called out members of the Black Student Union, thanked them for their steadfast work and the audience applauded. Union members were part of the June 20 protest Town Hall during which supporters presented a list of demands, including having BLM banners at Arlington High.
“The response to the rally was really wonderful,” Janger told YourArlington July 27. “I was so glad to see so many in the community come out to support our black students and teachers. The applause for our Black Student Union brought smiles to a lot of faces …. We filled the entire football field with folks spaced on the yard lines, 6 feet apart, and there were folks spilling out on the edges.”
He wrote that replacement banners have been ordered for the Mass. Ave. fence and are expected to be installed in about a week. A security camera will be installed.
“The signs from the event will remain on the stadium fence in the interim,” he wrote. “Some have asked how they could support replacing the banners. If folks are interested they can donate to the Arlington High School Black Student Union or the AHS Inclusion Fund.” Checks can be made out to the AHS General Fund, with the desired fund in the memo line.
With members of the public confirming that two banners were spray-painted Thursday, July 23, a rally titled “Arlington Fights Back Rally” was held at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 26. Speakers including representatives from Arlington High School, the public schools and the Human Rights Commission were due to speak at Peirce Field.
Kristen Bauer, the Human Rights Commission cochair, echoed his sentiments and read the statement that the commission has posted on its website. Read it here >> Basically, it expresses support for Black Lives Matter and promises that commission will continue to focus its efforts in helping to educate and encourage people to never stop in the fight for racial justice.
An 8-minute, 46-second moment of silence honored George Floyd. The crowd left to a song from “Glory.”
Signs hung on temporary fence
People were asked to hang their signs on the temporary fence near to the field, and there were materials to create personal signs.
Sheri Baron, a member of Human Rights Commission, who provided some of this background, said she saw a number of families of color with small children as well as white families.
“The mood was somber during the rally but uplifting when the posters went up,” she wrote.
Arlington police are investigating the vandalism to banners that read “We Believe Black Lives Matter.” Its report refer to one banner; Superintendent Kathleen Bodie referred to more than one. Posters on social media this weekend said two banners were involved.
Police responded to a report of the vandalism at 9:29 a.m. July 23. Upon arrival, police spoke with a custodian, who reported that a banner hung on the construction fence facing Mass. Ave. on the campus of Arlington High School had been vandalized with spray paint. The banner had been removed earlier, at 8:15 a.m., after the damage was discovered, the custodian reported to police.
Superintendent Bodie told the School Committee July 23 that the banners had been so badly vandalized overnight that they would need to be replaced rather than repaired.
Police were asked July 23 what was spray-painted on the banner and how many banners were involved. The next day, Capt. Richard Flynn declined to comment on both matters, citing the ongoing investigation.
Bodie’s email
In an email to parents July 23, Bodie wrote:
“I regret to tell you that the ‘We Believe Black Lives Matter’ banners mounted on the construction fence at Arlington High School were defaced last night. The banners were placed earlier this summer to express a unified statement of the AHS community. The banner message was the product of AHS students, working together with the Principal and other AHS administrators and teachers, to share a statement of principle for the school.”
She has been asked how many banners were vandalized.
Arlington police are actively investigating the incident, and are asking anyone with information regarding the vandalism to call the department at 781-643-1212.
“We are thoroughly investigating this incident and treating it with the utmost seriousness,” Chief Juliann Flaherty said in a July 23 news release. “This act of vandalism not only damaged school property, but it sent a hurtful message to the entire community that contradicts the shared values the banner was meant to convey.”
The banner was mounted on the construction fence earlier this summer on the school’s campus in an effort by the district to express a unified statement that Black Lives Matter. The idea to hang the banner came in the wake of conversations among administrators and the school’s Black Student Union and Arlington High School Anti-Racism Working Group, whose membership includes students, staff, administration and parents.
‘Disappointed’
“We’re very disappointed that this banner was defaced as it was a way for students, teachers and administrators to state a shared principle for the school. It is very painful to see it vandalized,” Superintendent Bodie said in the release. “We are thankful to the Arlington Police Department for investigating this matter.
“In the meantime, we will prioritize repairing or replacing the banner so that it can continue to serve as a visible reminder of our commitment to community-building for and among students, faculty, and staff alike. This only reinforces the importance of our ongoing efforts to further promote diversity, equity and inclusion at APS.”
Arlington High School Principal Matthew Janger has reached out to the Black Student Union, the Arlington High School Anti-Racism Working Group, the Arlington Human Rights Commission, and district and town leadership to continue discussions regarding diversity, equity and inclusion in the district.
“For my part, I’d ask whoever did this to do two things,” said Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine. “First, to think about their actions and consider how hurtful they are to people in our community. Next, I’d ask them to learn more about our nation’s history and the lasting presence and impacts of structural racism. I suggest this because, once one fully confronts the history of our nation, it’s hard to disagree with the need to state clearly and plainly that Black Lives Matter.”
“Vandalism like this is a painful reminder of how much work we must continue to do to become a safe, supportive, and inclusive town. The AHRC is deeply committed to continuing to work with all members of our community to deepen understanding and expand dialogue to help create a more welcoming Arlington,” said Sharon Grossman, cochair of the Arlington Human Rights Commission.
The Town of Arlington and Arlington Public Schools began holding an ongoing series of Community Conversations about Racism and Reforms this June. This incident underscores the need for these conversations and that much more work needs to be done in Arlington. Learn more at arlingtonma.gov/communityconversations.
June 20, 2020: Estimated 300 attend Black Student Union protest, march
This news announcement was published Thursday, July 23, 2020. Kelsey Bode, the writer, works for John Guilfoil Public Relations, which provides news releases to the town. Bob Sprague updated it July 24, to add Bodie and Flynn comments; July 26, to highlight rally and report confirmation of banners; July 27, to add rally details; and July 28, to add a video link.
