Melrose City Council Declares In Unison: Black Lives Matter

MELROSE, MA — The City Council declared Black Lives Matter during Monday night's virtual meeting, even as some residents were calling on the Council to go a step further during a controversial vote.

The Council unanimously supported a resolution put forth by Councilor Maya Jamaleddine and co-sponsored by Jack Eccles that explicitly denounced racism. The full text of the resolution can be found below.

The resolution comes more than two weeks after members of the Council took a knee in memory of George Floyd, the Black man who died with a Minneapolis police officer's knee on his neck. Councilors Jamaleddine, Jen Grigoraitis and Leila Miglorelli issued a joint statement that night outlining commitments to racial justice.

Those three Councilors — the only three women on the Council — were the only ones last week who voted against recommending a police free cash appropriation that included $26,000 for a weapons upgrade that Mayor Paul Brodeur requested be re-directed to fund implicit bias training.

Residents who spoke during public comment Monday night expressed disappointment that eight Councilors voted to recommend the appropriation. Some asked whether the turnout and message of the Stand Out For Racial Equality went unnoticed.

A Resolution Reaffirming Support of Racial Equity

Whereas, It is the policy of the City of Melrose to uphold the human rights of all persons regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital, family or military status, source of income or disability; and

Whereas, The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, representing Police Chiefs in all 351 cities and towns and most college campuses, denounced the egregious actions taken by four members of the Minneapolis Police Department, whether by action or inaction, that resulted in the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020; and

Whereas, On May 31, 2020 Mayor Paul Brodeur, Police Chief Mike Lyle and Superintendent Cyndy Taymore released a statement noting their sadness and outrage at the death of George Floyd; and

Whereas, On June 5, 2020, the Mayor announced that his office and other city departments would be devoting the next two weeks to focus on how City Services can contribute to creating a more racially just and equitable community; and

Whereas, The Massachusetts Police Officers have thoroughly embraced the six pillars of the principles embodied in the final report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, and remain committed to professional conduct, democratic policing and procedural justice for all people; and

Whereas, Racism hurts everyone and has had a profound effect on children and adults whether in our everyday interactions with others at work, school, or in our neighborhoods and communities; and

Whereas, Many of the residents of Melrose have organized in response to the killing of George Floyd and have committed to standing up against social injustice.

Be it Resolved, That the Melrose City 2Council will work with the Police Department alongside community leaders and advocates to understand the steps the Police Department has taken and can take to provide effective public safety, while ensuring accountability not only to the City Council and Mayor’s Office, but to the public as a whole and the community of Melrose; and

Be It Further Resolved, That the Melrose City Council will affirm that Black Lives Matter and reaffirm our motto “One Community, Open to All” by taking a pledge stating “As an individual committed to social justice, I stand against racism and discrimination of any kind. I commit to a lifetime of promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people in my community and in the World.”