stand against racism

On Friday, April 30th, the YWCA Greater Newburyport joined with 70 other YWCAs throughout the country to take a Stand Against Racism. 

Locally, over 20 groups joined in our Stand.  These groups included schools, churches, businesses and other non-profit groups.  Georgetown High School announced the event over their PA system and invited students to take the pledge against racism.  During lunch, over 100 students joined and created a long chain to show their support.  Several local churches participated by focusing their sermon or readings on the issue of racial justice and  parishioners joined by taking the pledge.  The Provident Bank branch at Storey Ave invited patrons to sign the pledge while banking.  Community Action Family and Community Connections program focused their morning activities on skin color; reading and talking about a book about crayons.

The YWCA Greater Newburyport’s event was held on the Waterfront Park with 100 people in attendance.  Zach Field and the Plum Island Pans started the program with lively music.  Laura Biddle, and her puppet Pedro, challenged those in attendance to think about how people of color are treated by the criminal justice system.  We are thankful to Pedro for his reflections.  Senator Baddour encouraged us to be respectful and to practice disagreeing without being disagreeable. Newburyport Mayor Holaday asked us all to work together to reduce hatred in our community.  She reminded us that it is the smallest of expressions that can cause the deepest of hurts. Please click here for the text of her comments.    Everyone present stood and took the pledge together.

We would like to thank those who helped make this event a success, Zach Field Drum Studios, Rev. Laura Biddle, Senator Baddour, Mayor Holaday, the Waterfront Park Trust, Ben Miller and the Garrison Inn who helped sponsor the event.

The YWCA Greater Newburyport’s Stand is also a youth leadership development program.  High School students meet regularly over the course of 6 months to plan and implement the event.  Those who are interested in organizing and leading next year’s event are encouraged to contact us.

We ask that you all become involved in Standing Against Racism.  If you have not already done so, please take the pledge.  If you have, please post it in a place that will remind you of the work to be done to eliminate racism.  We are asking that students join us in the fall to begin planning the 2011 event.  We hope that schools, businesses and non-profits will join us to implement the vision of a world without racism and join with us in next year’s event.

13 Market Street, Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950 | Phone: 978-465-9922 | Fax: 978-465-1076