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Local Officials: Pledge to Take Action on Systemic Racism

Pledge to Take Action on Systemic Racism

Our nation's long-simmering tensions over systemic racism and police violence have resulted in important protests and conversations this summer, making one thing clear: now is a time for action. All of our residents deserve to feel safe in their homes and on our streets, and we can take steps locally to help.

After the murder of George Floyd, Greater Boston mayors and managers came together and asked MAPC to craft a pledge to address important police reforms. Eighteen mayors and managers from across the Commonwealth signed on, agreeing to address systemic racism in their communities and take steps toward these reforms.

The document includes not only a pledge and principles, but a menu of local actions that can be evaluated and implemented by individual communities, along with a series of state actions we feel are absolutely necessary to move this process forward.

The pledge and the call to action resonated with many: after MAPC released the pledge, selectpersons, councilors, and other local officials asked how they could express their support. As a result, MAPC is opening up the pledge to elected officials at all levels of city and town government.

If you would like to sign on, fill out this form with your name, position/title, municipality, and contact information. If you have any questions, reach out to Government Affairs Director Lizzi Weyant at [email protected].

Pledge, Principles, and Actions on Systemic Racism in Our Communities and Violence in Law Enforcement

We, the undersigned officials from cities and towns throughout Metropolitan Boston, pledge to address systemic racism in our communities and violence in law enforcement. 

After the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks, and many other people of color who have lost their lives or have been injured as a result of police brutality, our residents are demanding significant changes in the way policing is conducted. We hear them and we are listening. Though our cities and towns differ, all of our residents deserve to feel safe in their homes and on our streets, and now is the time to make these changes a reality in our communities.

Signatories

Mayors & Managers

Adam Chapdelaine
Town Manager of Arlington

Michael D. Herbert
Town Manager of Ashland

Sarah Stanton
Town Manager of Bedford

Michael P. Cahill
Mayor of Beverly

Mel Kleckner
Town Administrator of Brookline

Louis A. DePasquale
City Manager of Cambridge

Sumbul Siddiqui
Mayor of Cambridge

Thomas G. Ambrosino
City Manager of Chelsea

Dr. Yvonne M. Spicer
Mayor of Framingham

Alex Morse
Mayor of Holyoke

Breanna Lungo-Koehn
Mayor of Medford

Paul Brodeur
Mayor of Melrose

Andrew Sheehan
Town Administrator of Middleton

Elizabeth Gibson
Town Manager of Nantucket

Donna Holaday
Mayor of Newburyport

Ruthanne Fuller
Mayor of Newton

Brian M. Arrigo
Mayor of Revere

Kimberley Driscoll
Mayor of Salem

Joseph A. Curtatone
Mayor of Somerville

Sean Fitzgerald
Town Administrator of Swampscott

Austin Faison
Town Manager of Winthrop

Other Local Officials

Sandy Pooler
Arlington Deputy Town Manager

Margot Fleishman
Bedford Select Board Member

Todd Rotondo
Beverly City Councilor

Alanna Mallon
Cambridge Vice-Mayor

Thatcher W. Kezer III
Framingham Chief Operating Officer

Jen Holmgren
Gloucester Councilor at Large

Samantha Perlman
Marlborough City Councilor at Large

Laura Wagner, MSW
Marlborough City Councilor (Ward 1)

Isaac "Zac" Bears
Medford City Councilor

Jack Eccles
Melrose City Councilor-at-Large

Jen Grigoraitis
Melrose City Council President
Melrose City Councilor (Ward 6)

Maya Jamaleddine
Melrose City Councilor-at-Large

Leila B. Migliorelli
Melrose City Councilor

Jake Auchincloss
Newton City Councilor

Alicia Bowman
Newton City Councilor

Andreae Downs
Newton City Councilor At-Large (Ward 5)

Maria Scibelli Greenberg
Newton City Councilor (Ward 1)

Emily Norton
Newton City Councilor

Christine Madore
Salem City Councillor (Ward 2)

Megan Riccardi
Salem City Councillor (Ward 6)

Josh Turiel
Salem Councillor (Ward 5)

Tracey A. Honan
Winthrop Councilor at Large

Stephen Ruggiero
Winthrop Councilor

Last update: Dec. 21