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Weekly Newsletter                 11 June, 2023

Artwork by Cookie Rivera

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Read our column in the Westerly Sun: "Embracing Multiculturalism: Some

Reflections on Motherhood"

"I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard's and
my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the
commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people,
black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the
freedom to marry for all. That's what Loving, and loving, are all
about.=

--Mildred Loving
 A BIG ARC THANK YOU

THANK YOU - YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE

A big ARC Thank You to our many members and allies whose advocacy made
a difference this week, particularly our friends from the Westerly Library, Savoy
Bookstore and United Theatre who spoke up and spoke out so passionately
against the threats of H6324. Westerly ARC has many irons in the fire. The
following 3 all shared agenda status last week.

Both the Town Council (4 to 2 w/1 abstention vote) and School Committee
(4 to 3 vote) defeated measures to support Representative Azzinaro’s
H6324, "An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses-Obscene and
Objectionable Publication and Shows=, introduced in April 2023 to the RI
General Assembly. It proposed amendments to RI’s current law making
presenting material deemed obscene or objectionable a crime. The law
includes a long list of definitions of obscene and objectionable materials
which are ambiguous and open to a long and wide arc of interpretations.
Proposed language most concerning is found in 11-31-10. Sale or exhibition
to minors of indecent publications, pictures, or articles, (c) The provisions
of this section shall apply to any library pursuant to chapter 1 of title 29
and any public or charter school or library. The language targets libraries,
including school libraries in an effort to intimidate public officials, libraries,
school administrators, teachers, and librarians - the very safeguards
protecting our children and teens from obscene and objectionable
materials.
The School Committee placed Policy No 1032: "Westerly School
Committee Public Forums" addressing conduct for public forums on their
agenda and after discussion agreed to revisit and revise current policy in
the interest of promoting and enforcing civil discourse in Public
Commentary at meetings.
Westerly School Committee legal counsel announced at Wednesday’s
School Committee meeting that the RI Attorney General’s Office had
notified him the Westerly School Committee was not in violation of the
Open Meetings Act when members participated in community
conversations with Westerly ARC about race and equity in January 2020.
ARC sent a long legal brief to the Attorney General outlining our case why
no meeting violation had occurred. We are pleased this 2.5 year old issue
has ended.

--Anne Pearce, Geoff Serra, Westerly ARC

ENGAGE
 This Sunday
Please join us Sunday, June 11 from 11-1pm on the westerly Post Office
steps for another opportunity to be together and share the wonders
of community. If you are new to our gatherings come with a sign
expressing your hope for a better tomorrow for all people or just come
and stand in solidarity with us. There will surely be people of all ages,
nationalities, religions and social status as everyone is welcome.
Come for two minutes or two hours, we’d love to see you!

Last Sunday
This first Sunday of June several of us
celebrated Pride Month by wearing
multi-colored Pride clothing to our
gathering. Jesse brought brightly
colored ribbons to distribute as
several families and walkers stopped
to add their special touch to our weekly sidewalk art exhibit. We are proud to
support our LGBTQ+ relatives, friends and neighbors as they navigate the
turbulent waters of our times.

April Dinwoodie filled us in on the importance of speaking out at the Town

Council meeting on Monday and the School Committee on Wednesday about
the proposal to support HB 6234 which would make it much easier to restrict
certain books from school and public libraries because of <pornographic and
obscene= content. As of this writing this proposal failed to gain enough support
from either the Council or the School Committee to pass.

On Saturday we participated in the Westerly Library’s first <Pride in the Park=

celebration. The ARC table, brightly decorated with Pride flags and books on
racism as well as gender issues, became a place for good conversation. In spite
of the unusually cold and windy weather the positive energy surrounding us
brought a sense of warmth. Over 30 people signed up for our newsletter and
promised to stop by on Sunday mornings. Some were new to Westerly and
thrilled to find us advocating for justice and equality. Congratulations to the
Westerly Library staff for promoting and supporting the rights of all. Special
thanks to Stevi, Pam, Anne, Jessie, Diane and Madeline for their help at the ARC
table.
 Juneteenth Plans

<Celebrating the Journey=

Sunday, June 18, 2023

11am- 1pm, Westerly Post Office Steps

Opening Remarks: Senator Victoria

Gu, RI District 38
Music by Frank Pendola and Geoff
Kaufman
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of
South County will perform
<Generations=
Youth dance troupe Blooming into
Greatness will dance
Inspirational speaker Kevin Booker is
sure to motivate
Refreshments prepared by Chris
Davidson and committee
Children's activities including crafts
and games
Art projects led by local artists
And more…

Come and join the celebration. All are welcome. Rain or shine!

ARC Steering Committee

to Speak at the United
Congregational Church
Rev. Ruth Hainsworth, pastor of the
United Congregational Church of
Westerly has invited Westerly ARC to
speak to her parishioners on our anti-racism work on Sunday, June 11 at the
9:45 am service. We are honored to be asked to join the members of this parish
at their Sunday service. Several members of the committee will be there to
answer questions and tell their story after the main presentation by Anne
Pearce. All are welcome to join us as we continue our mission of educating,
embracing and empowering our community. The Church is located at 9 Castle
Hill Rd in Pawcatuck.
 Opening Reception for
Cookie Rivera
Cookie Rivera’s posters will be
exhibited at the Westerly Public
Library gallery in honor of ARC’s
Juneteenth 2023 theme <Celebrating
the Journey= beginning Monday,
June 12. 

The opening reception will be held in

the Hoxie Gallery from 5-7 pm on
Monday. Please join us as we honor
Cookie’s beautiful art work which she
has passionately and continuously produced every week for our ARC
gatherings. All are welcome and please bring a friend.

We meet every Sunday from 11:00-1:00 on the steps of the Westerly

Post Office on High Street. Join us anytime!

EMPOWER

Town Meetings & School

Committee Meetings
Westerly ARC encourages those who
can to attend Westerly Town Council
and School Committee meetings.
Your presence and involvement is an
important way to show our elected
officials that creating a more
equitable and inclusive town and school system must always be a priority.

June 19 Town Council Meeting, 5:30 pm

June 21 School Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm

Here is the link to meeting and agendas and minutes:

https://clerkshq.com/westerly-ri
How You Can Help View our Calendar

Besides the requests and ideas featured in this

newsletter, here are a few ongoing ways to stay
involved and help out.

Share Donate Show Up

Spread the news! ARC advocate Amanda Stop by one of our
Forward this newsletter Dunn continues to weekly gatherings, join
to at least one person collect toiletries, one of the events listed
you think might be personal care items, in this newsletter, attend
interested in it. Ask them and non-perishable a town meeting, etc.
to sign up for our food to distribute to our
<We must always take sides.
newsletter on the community. Please
Neutrality helps the
Westerly ARC website. bring your donations to
oppressor, never the
Amanda at our Sunday
Don't forget to like, victim. Silence encourages
rallies. Your kindness
subscribe, comment, the tormentor, never the
and generosity are
and share on our social tormented.=
greatly appreciated.
media posts! ― Elie Wiesel

EDUCATE

This Week in History

Understanding the history of past injustices can inform us as we advocate for
justice and equity today. Let us know what you think of the articles we share
and send us your ideas!

It is unfortunately too easy to find examples of racial injustice for this section of
our newsletter. Some stories are familiar, but many are long forgotten. This week
we learn of the youngest person ever to be executed in the US in the 20th
century, 14-year-old George Stinney. Although this occurred in 1944, the State of
South Carolina argued in 2014 that <despite all the unfairness in this case4
George’s conviction should stand.=

Learn more about George and the circumstances of this horrific event:
Fourteen-Year-Old George Stinney Executed in South Carolina.

Showing Support for Our

Teachers
Congratulation to the 2023 winners of
the Susan B. Wilson Civic Education Merit Awards

The League of Women Voters of South County is pleased to announce this

year's recipients of the 16th annual Susan B. Wilson Civic Education Merit
Awards. 

Heidi Lamb of The Grace School of Providence has earned the Grand
Prize;
Christopher Stanley of Ponaganset High School of North Scituate has
earned the Jury Prize; and
Serena Mason of North Kingstown High School of North Kingstown has
earned Honorable Mention.

The League inaugurated this award to honor teachers who have enriched their
students' understanding of civic rights and responsibilities; have encouraged
their students' civic participation; and have brought context and relevance to
crucial events affecting the United States on a national, regional, statewide, or
local level.

LOCAL EVENTS
There are many events happening throughout the RI and CT communities that
help us to educate and learn about other matters that intersect with the
complex issues of race and diversity.

As members of ARC we encourage you to attend and support these events, call
upon your legislators to act for change and always be open to listening and
respecting different points of view. With patience and persistence we will find
ways to work together to remove the barriers that prevent us from living
cooperatively and lovingly together.

The Golden Rule

Strawberry
Teach Truth RI The world’s 1st protest
Thanksgiving
Join Teach Truth RI in ship will be in 
Tomaquag Museum’s
celebrating and uplifting
Annual Strawberry New London, CT
inclusive and
Thanksgiving will be on June 9-10 and 
representative books,
held on the URI Providence, RI
curriculum and
Quadrangle.  June 11-13. 
teaching practices in
public schools, public Date: June 10  It is sailing around the
libraries and beyond. (Rain date: June 11)  country to advocate for
Time:  12 - 4 PM the abolition of nuclear
Date: June 10 from 11 AM
weapons. Many daytime
- 2 PM  It will feature artist
and evening events are
Place:  demonstrations
scheduled for all ages.
The Rochambeau celebrating indigenous
Library  basketry, indigenous art Note: The RI Senate
Address: 708 Hope St., and food vendors, voted 31-0 in support of
Providence, RI. traditional drumming this
and dance. resolution: WELCOMING
THE GOLDEN RULE
 SAILBOAT TO RHODE
ISLAND IN SUPPORT OF A
NUCLEAR-FREE WORLD

Culture Calendar

June 11 3 Puerto Rican Day Parade

The National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) is the largest demonstration of
cultural pride in the nation. Now in its 66th year, the parade takes place from
44th Street to 79th Street along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, in honor of the 3.5
million inhabitants of Puerto Rico and over 5 million people residing in the
United States. (Read more here.)

June 12 3 Loving Day

This day is the anniversary of the court decision that legalizes interracial
marriage.

<When Richard and Mildred Loving awoke in the middle of the night a few weeks
after their June, 1958 wedding, it wasn't normal newlywed ardor. There were
policemen with flashlights in their bedroom. They'd come to arrest the couple.=
Read more about Richard and Mildred’s brave struggle for justice in this article
from NPR.

<When asked if he had a message for the justices, the normally-quiet Richard
did: Tell them I love my wife, he said.=

Up Next

Calendar of Events

June 9-10 The Golden, Rule New London CT

June 11-13 The Golden Rule, Providence RI

Strawberry Thanksgiving, URI

June 10
Quad. 12-4 (Rain date June 11)

Teach Truth RI, Rochambeau

June 10
Library, Providence, RI, 11-2

Opening Reception: Artwork of

June 12 Cookie Rivera, Westerly Public
Library, 5-7 PM
 Town Council Meeting, Westerly
June 19
Town Hall, 5:30 PM

School Committee Meeting,

June 21
Westerly Town Hall, 5:00 PM

The Westerly ARC newsletter is written, edited, and compiled by Madeline

Labriola, Tim Flanagan, April Dinwoodie and Lisa Chen.

Westerly Anti-Racism Coalition

Join our weekly gatherings westerlyarc@gmail.com
Sundays 11-1
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