Page 2 - Metro Record April 2021 filea

Springfield Mayor No Longer Welcome.

Black Residents Have Had Enough of

Domenic Sarno! Continued from Page 1

Theymuststayandlistentothehard community, should march on the In regards to the Mayor no longer
conversations that need to be had, district court and the homes of our being welcomed in the Black
especially as it pertains to the justices who serve us on the bench community, Keaton says that bridge
violence. They have to stop walking along with another march on the has been burned a long time ago, it
away when the conversations get office of District Attorney Anthony seems the Mayor only works with
tough.” Gulliuni. My constituents are tired, prominent people of color – other
they’re frustrated, and they are than that he has absolutely no
Juanita Bachelor was made aware of rightfully angry. There has to be presence in the Black community.
theMcknightNeighborhoodCouncil someaccountabilityMr.Mayor!” Keaton thinks the Mayor needs to Scott R. Walker RN BSN
due to a Facebook message that was resign and step down. If the
circulating. She says that she was Stokes who recently visited the community feels he should not be
“shocked, appalled, and frustrated” homes of three families whose loved welcomed then he should step down
andgoesontosay“…theyarehaving ones have been murdered was – thus, he should not be invited into
something in this neighborhood angered to hear the mayor the melanated community. If the swalker@studyhome.org
about gun violence after me and addressing everything except root Mayor was fully representing all of
othermothershavebeenpleadingfor cause issues and feels the Mayor Springfield why would he not accept T: 413.739.5626 x282
ameetingandpressconferencefrom blatantly disrespects the families of invitations from all the other
C: 413.693.8762
the mayor and the commissioner for the victims and the Black organizationsthatinvitehimtospeak
months.” community. Hestates,“theycameto on these issues. “For Domenic to sit F: 413.732.5457
talkabout‘hearing’gunshots,andnot silently when the commissioner says The Cottage
Bachelor says she attended because the loss of life, nobody talked about shedoesn’tseeracismthereforethere 38 Sherman Street
she really wanted to see what they thefamiliesandnevermentionedthe isnoracisminthepolicedepartment, Springfield, MA 01109
both had to say while curious about victims.” especially while reviewing the
how they could be doing a press responsestotheDOJreport–thatis
conference on gun violence without Stokes said what also angered him aslapinthefacetoallresidentsinthis
thepeoplenegativelyimpacted? waswhenthemayorsaidthatinstead great city. We cannot continue to be
ofmarchingontheMayor’soffice,we disrespected and when we respond
Bachelor says, “I was upset about should be marching on the district thepoliticiansandmediapresentthe
what the mayor had to say, blaming court – and then he looked into the scenario as the melanated
the parents, blaming judges not eyes of Juanita Bachelor, the mother community again being aggressive OLIVE TREE BOOKS-N-VOICES
being apologetic to the families who of Darrell Jenkins, a victim of gun anddisrespectful.” Visit us: 97HancockStreet, Springfield, MA 01109
have loved ones whose murders are violence–andsaid“theparentsneed (413) 737-6400
still unsolved. Meanwhile the to get involved and take Springfield resident Spanky Blake Or shoponline: olivetreebooksonline.com
Commissioner simply brushes it off responsibility.” Stokes says, “black says “I believe that anyone that has Email: Olivetreebooks@msn.com
like it’s nothing. We are tired of this. mothers are suffering from the pain proventhattheydonotlove,orvalue Facebook: Olive Tree Books-n-Voices
The Mayor clearly said he’s tired of oftheirchildrenbeingmurdered–all black or brown people should not be
this fucking shit as if we are not tired unsolved! The audacity of white welcome into our homes, our
oflosinglovedonesinthestreets.” privilege!” community and our lives…. that
appliestoanybodyregardlessofrace,
Whitfield states, “it is always Bacheloradds,“Ifeelhedoesnotcare ethnicity, or gender. We need to
frustrating working with the Mayor about us and does not deserve to be carefully vet anyone that we allow in.
and his continued rants about thugs, welcomed in our community. I feel We’ve been too free with resources,
drug dealers and gang members and his response was a smack in the face meetings, and families. Enough is
how we should increase the bail for toshowuptothisneighborhoodthat enough!”
offenders. To top things off, he hear about gunshots while our
strongly suggests that we, the childrenareactuallygettingshot.”