Hate Has No Home Here

“Not one of us can rest, be happy, be at home, be at peace with ourselves, until we end hatred and division.”

-Senator John Lewis

Earlier this month, my friend Sara had a Black Lives Matter sign stolen from her front yard on a busy street in Lynnfield. It has happened 7 more times. Many other residents with Black Lives Matter signs have had their property vandalized and signs stolen or damaged in Lynnfield, North Reading, Reading and Middleton. In some cases, these threats and actions have been categorized as hate crimes.
My name is Michelle Mullet and I am running to become the first female State Representative in the 20th Middlesex District in Massachusetts. I’m also a mom and a community activist. I’m writing today to condemn these hate crimes in our district and to offer some insight and solutions to this terrible problem we face now.
First, let’s look at the problem through a national lens.
There is a false dichotomy in America today.
This current administration wants you to think that life is merely a game of “Us vs. Them.”
That false dichotomy corrupts our quiet, suburban life with the misperception of “Black Lives Matter vs. The Police.”
The two are not mutually exclusive. And that argument and rhetoric ignores the core issue that we should be talking about which is the ongoing, institutionalized oppression of black communities across the country. Until we have these hard conversations, the misunderstandings and misperceptions will continue to cloud our community.
What is our local law enforcement doing to protect our neighbors? What can neighbors and friends do to make this right? First, let’s remember that Lynnfield Police chief David Breen was very much a part of the Black Lives Matter protest a few months ago and he gave a very moving, heartfelt speech. It was obvious that he was deeply effected by the tragic murder of George Floyd. As the daughter of a police officer, I know first hand what law enforcement faces on a daily basis. I also know that police departments are not monoliths and we can’t say one organization is just the same as any others. But what I know for sure is that Lynnfield Police Department is actively investigating and working on this problem. There is a responsibility that we have as neighbors to look out for one another and to be vigilant. The burden can’t be on law enforcement alone, especially when neighbors can offer information and evidence in real time when something happens. So, if you have information about these recent hate crimes, please contact Lynnfield Police.

To be clear, the Black Lives Matter Movement and every police department in America are not at war here. The two entities are not mutually exclusive and there is no dichotomy. That’s the Facebook culture that we’ve grown accustomed to in 2020. Let’s make allowances for people and all the complexities that they harbor. If we think this is a simple case of black people versus the police, then where do black law enforcement officers fall into that assumption? I think the problem is that everyone shows up with their inherent biases. We all assume things about others. We assume they have the same resources, the same family structures, the same career paths, the same healthcare, even the same physical abilities. And that’s where these hate crimes stem from. The assumption that everyone that doesn’t look like you or agree with you must be against you. And that’s just not right.
Nobody has it easy during this national healthcare disaster. We are all under tremendous stress. Don’t take that frustration out on your neighbors. Instead, ask yourself this. What can I do to make this day easier for my friends and neighbors? Maybe I can bring them a coffee. Maybe I can babysit their kids outside while they work from home for a couple of hours.
And when we make those thoughtful, more compassionate decisions, then we create a community where we can feel at home again.

If you have been the victim of a hate crime, here are some resources to help you get through this hard time:

The Attorney General enforces the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act.
Here are things you can do to report a hate crime in your community.
1. You can call the Attorney General Maura Healey’s Civil Rights Division at (617) 963-2917.
2. If you prefer to send information online, visit www.mass.gov/service-details/protections-against-hate-crimes.
3. There is also a special hotline for victims of hate crimes if they need more information on their situation: 1-800-994-3228.

We are all part of the towns we live in, when we attack each other nothing is accomplished and family life is disrupted. Let us get back to the tough job of taking care of our families and surviving this terrible coronavirus emergency. Everyday, while this administration bombards us with cruelty, let us look to our neighbors and offer kindness.

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.”

Seneca