We Will Not Be Silenced: Letter

The following was submitted by Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal of Temple Beth Shalom:

We will not be silenced

Last week the Black Lives Matter sign at Temple Beth Shalom came down. We will never know for sure if someone intentionally ripped the sign down, but it is not hard to imagine that it was deliberate. Two days later there was a discussion on a Melrose Facebook page about Black Lives Matter lawn signs disappearing.

In Easton, Mass, there have been at least 40 signs stolen. One resident said her Black Lives Matter sign was stolen four times, while her sign thanking essential workers has never been touched. Lynnfield, Wenham, Danvers, and I’m sure many more towns have seen the same thing. In Stoneham, one resident was sent a hateful, racist letter because of her sign. Similarly, in Falmouth, multiple signs were taken and replaced with hate mail.

This is racism. The perpetrators are trying to send a message, attempting to silence those of us who have resolved to battle racism in this country. We will not be silenced.

The sign at Temple Beth Shalom is back up. We will put it back as many times as needed.

Black Lives Matter