Brookline Candidates To Debate At Racial Equity Forum

BROOKLINE, MA — In the wake of social justice rallies, anti-Asian hate vigils and police reform task forces across the country —and in Brookline— decrying systemic racism, one tool that rally organizers have promoted is the ballot box.

On May 4, the town will head to the polls to fill several key local seats, including two seats for Select Board and School Committee and one Town Meeting Moderator.

Brookline for Racial Justice and Equity, a coalition with the aim of identifying racial inequality and dismantling structural racism, is hosting a forum to discuss candidate views on racial justice set for April 12.

"Now more than ever we need our town government to tackle these issues," the forum's organizers said in an email announcing the group's third-annual Racial Justice Candidate Forum.

Five candidates for the Select Board, two candidates for Town Meeting moderator, and two candidates for the year-long term on the School Committee will join the forum, according to the group.

BRJE members Emy Takinami and Malcolm Cawthorne will moderate the discussion, and press candidates "to move beyond platitudes to provide a deeper understanding of their own experiences and, critically, their specific policy proposals," according to the group.

The forum will be held at 7 p.m. April 12 on Zoom and will be live streamed by Brookline Interactive Group (BIG) as well as on

The candidates:
For Moderator: Scott Ananian and Kate Poverman
For School Committee: Valerie Frias and Steven Ehrenberg
For Select Board: Bernard Greene, Nancy Heller, Donelle S. O’Neal Sr., Miriam Aschkenasy,
and Zoe Lynn