Letter To The Editor: Principal Turner And The Rittenhouse Case

Newton MA

14 December, 2021

2:31 PM

Description

NEWTON, MA —The following letter to the editor was submitted by the Newton Coalition of Black Residents. Dear Editor and the Newton Community, We are disheartened that the Newton Patch chose to publish a one-sided article that targeted Newton North High School principal, Dr. Henry Turner, and his efforts to support the high school and greater community following the controversial verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. The Patch article first appeared on December 1st (with an update on December 2nd) highlighting only the negative feedback that a small minority of Newton residents and outsiders expressed on social media. The Patch article focused on several quotes in Dr. Turner's message to staff and his personal social media accounts without providing the full context of those quotes. This lack of impartiality in reporting fanned the flame of divisiveness which led some readers to unjustly criticize Dr. Turner. Without greater context to his comments, these readers failed to understand that Dr. Turner was (1) clearly communicating to his staff how (many) students and staff of color would likely view the verdict, and (2) trying to provide the safe space and guidance so our educators may be equipped to support all students and each other as they processed the Rittenhouse verdict. Dr. Turner's actions were consistent with Newton Public School (NPS) values and efforts to support and facilitate an inclusive, anti-racist environment. The Kyle Rittenhouse verdict is a divisive subject depending on your experience in this world. Many Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters and others were in Kenosha protesting the police shooting of Jacob Blake and continued systematic disregard for the lives of Black and Brown people when a former Kenosha city alderman wrote a racially charged "call to action" for civilians to come armed to protect the city from so-called 'thugs'. Mr. Rittenhouse and others heeded this call to action and felt license to treat the BLM protesters as a threat, becoming self-proclaimed vigilantes. Despite the threat that these vigilantes posed by coming armed with military-grade weapons, the Kenosha Police Department welcomed and encouraged them, but failed to protect the protesters. The fact that the two people who were killed were white does not negate the racial overtones in this situation. We are grateful that NPS and our secondary principals allowed our students and educators space to discuss and process their fears and emotions about the verdict. Black and Brown high school students in Newton and across the country have been dealing with the emotional stress of these racially charged incidents and trials for years now. It's important that all our children feel supported at school and that the Newton community be inclusive and understand why marginalized groups feel the way they do following such trials. Kudos to Dr. Turner and other NPS high school and middle school principals who attempted to do that work following the Rittenhouse verdict. Unfortunately, the Patch failed to include the voices of Black and Brown Newton residents and chose to release a one-sided article that gave the false impression that Dr. Turner's actions were divisive and/or contrary to Newton and NPS values. In fact, all middle and high school principals were tasked with the duty to create spaces for students to process shared experiences in accordance with the NPS Statement of Values and district goals. Since the first publication of the Patch article regarding Henry Turner, we now see the emergence of a disturbing pattern that singles out our only two black secondary school principals for personal reproach. Bigelow Middle School's principal, Chassity Coston, has been the subject of a spurious attack. We stand with all the Newton Secondary Principals, and we stand with NPS. "We can disagree and still love each other … unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist." - James Baldwin Newton Coalition of Black Residents