To the Editor:

Yesterday I listened.

I cried.

I felt uncomfortable.

I felt outraged.

I felt like I had failed our children.

Yesterday I attended the Rally 4 Change organized by the Newtown Allies for Change at Edmond Town Hall. It was an opportunity to amplify voices and experiences of people of color in our community.

Speaker after speaker came to the microphone. Nearly all were Newtown High School graduates or parents of current students. Every one eloquently and passionately spoke of the overt racism they have experienced in our educational system by other students, staff, and even administrators. All felt that the system had absolutely failed them.

I truly believed that I understood the depth of our problem here. I thought that working to

*rewrite our racial and sexual harassment policies;

*develop a policy around trans students rights;

*ensure we had a minority hiring policy; and

*approve new curriculum in the high school history department

would create a more accepting and inclusive culture in our school system. I was sadly mistaken. I was white washing. I know that I — we — have so much to learn.

A Newtown Allies’ petition demands change at the local level: (change.org/p/newtown-allies-for-change-pledge-and-call-for-action/exp/cl_/cl_sharecopy_22883759_en-US/v8/176201689?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_22883759_en-US%3Av8&recruiter=176201689&recruited_by_id=92e25b40-654e-11e4-ab4c-e59a7ed025ee&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_abi).

As a Board of Education member, I will champion the requests brought forward, which include the following: implementing changes to curriculum, ensuring counselors and teachers are trained on mental health issues associated with race and diversity, and establishing a clear protocol that records incidents of racism occurring within the schools.

Directly following the rally, I reached out to Dr Rodrique and fellow Board Members to voice my concerns and ask them to work alongside me to change the culture in our schools. This cannot take a backseat any longer.

This rally was an incredible start — but we cannot let it be the last thing, the only thing, that we do here. We all have to roll up our sleeves — every elected official needs to take a hard and real look at what is happening here in Newtown and pledge to do everything they can to change the conversation.

Anyone that believes that there is no conversation to have because they “support the police” is not paying attention. Systemic racism absolutely must be addressed at every single level of our society. In every institution, every boardroom, every neighborhood, every Main Street. If your elected officials aren’t even simply talking about this, ask them why.

As a member of the Board of Education, I will not stay silent about what is happening in our schools and in our community. I will start here in Newtown to demand and implement change. And, if I am elected to serve as your State Representative, know that I will continue this fight there.

I urge every single person to educate yourselves alongside me and join in on these difficult conversations. We owe it to all of our children.

To current and former Newtown students: I am sorry that I have failed you. I will fight every day to do better.

Rebekah Harriman-Stites

5 Sealand Drive, Newtown June 22, 2020

Editor’s note: Harriman-Stites is a current member of the Newtown Board of Education and chair of its Policy Committee. She was an organizer for Saturday’s Rally 4 Change in Newtown and is currently a candidate for State Representative for the 106th district serving Newtown.