To the Editor:

In the past week since the Newtown community was finally heard and the effort to ban books was finally defeated, the leadership of Newtown Allies for Change (NAFC) has had a chance to reflect on how to grow from this experience.

Our reflections:

1. You can’t spread hate and expect the community to be docile or silent. That’s not how effective movements work. To silence free speech is to contradict the very democracy and freedom our country and its Constitution have always boasted.

2. It was the ENTIRE Newtown community of people that came out to speak. Reducing that population to just NAFC members minimizes an entire community of people who stood up in the face of wrong. Calling us “terrorists,” “hostile,” “intimidating,” “evil” or whatever narrative certain groups are attempting now does not change the fact that we (and others) were a catalyst for positive change.

3. What is important to understand about these board of education meetings regarding the potential books bans is that the majority of the people in the room were not related to NAFC nor its leadership. In acknowledging this information, it becomes obvious that what we saw during those meetings was an entire community of people who had come to the end of their ropes after watching months of improper and unethical behavior.

4. It’s important to address elected officials who we believe may have acted unethically early on if you want progress to be made. (Note that the June 1st BOE outcome was the same opt out option that was proposed at the May 16th meeting, but the now former BOE members rejected that proposal.)

5. Current narratives regarding the community that spoke against the books are an effort to deflect and distract from conditions surrounding last week’s resignations. What was going on around that time? In the spirit of transparency for a community that has been denied it thus far, NAFC posted in social media information obtained through the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act regarding the individuals and local politicians who were involved in this book banning effort.

What emerged from that post was more information than any of us realized existed, which was obvious evidence of a former BOE member’s involvement in the early stages of Newtown’s local execution of a national agenda. This is highly problematic. FOIA exists for this exact reason — to hold elected officials accountable for their behavior. Therefore it seems disingenuous to blame these resignations on the community, the teachers, and the students, when we believe it was obvious that there was so much inappropriate behavior being slowly uncovered that prompted this resignation.

6. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a resolution to which the Board has committed. NAFC will continue to stand behind this resolution and advocate for progress until Newtown overcomes this wave of hate and truly becomes a “nicer” place for ALL. NAFC has always and will continue to work hard to effect that change.

Newtown Allies for Change

Kate McGrady; Nicole Maddox; Nerlande Foote; Jessica Velasco; Don Lococo; Laura Main

Editor’s Note: Newtown has an appointed commission to receive and review ethics complaints against qualified local officials and municipal employees.