On Jan. 18 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day — a number of community members came together to host a vigil and celebration on the steps of the historic Putnam County Courthouse in Carmel, where it was held last year.

However, due to FBI reports of white supremacist organizations across the nation planning attacks on government buildings, and because white nationalist opposition and harassment of racial justice activists has occurred in Putnam County several times over the last year, the service was moved to the parking lot behind Drew United Methodist Church. It was a wonderful space and a great event, but what a sad commentary on our nation on a day that is supposed to celebrate all the progress we’ve made since MLK’s time.

Putnam County leaders must take decisive, public action to condemn the Capitol riots and the white supremacist groups that were behind them, and Putnam police and fire departments should enact policies barring employee activity in these organizations. We will not achieve MLK’s dream until we stop ignoring the white-supremacist violence that persists in our neighborhoods and our nation.

Eileen McDermott, Brewster

McDermott represents Putnam Pride. The letter was also signed by representatives of Putnam for Black Lives and Putnam Progressives.

Behind The Story

Type: Opinion

Opinion: Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.

This piece is by a contributor to The Current who is not on staff. Typically this is because it is a letter to the editor or a guest column.

One reply on “Letter: Don’t Ignore Hate”

  1. We will not achieve the vision of Martin Luther King until you and others condemn with the same vehemence the looting, pillaging, burning, destruction of small businesses and occupation of entire sections of cities that occurred for months on end by organized and well-funded leftist groups including Black Lives Matter and Antifas and excused by Democratic governors and mayors. The blatant double standard was apparent to all. Kamala Harris, former attorney general, supported bail for these criminals is a case in point. Nothing less than a broad-based condemnation of violence from whatever political spectrum as a strategy to attain social,racial or economic justice will truly achieve the non-violent vision of Martin Luther King. His vision achieved unity not division and rancor.

Comments are closed.