(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

By Benjamin Echevarria

Systemic racism comes in many forms.  While it is often hard to detect, the signs of systemic racism can be found in the way organizations use their rules to favor their white benefactors at the expense of black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). While conservative organizations such as the police, the Republican Party or Fortune 500 companies are often cited as examples of institutions that perpetuate systemic racism, such systems cannot exist without complicity from liberal and even leftist organizations.

The subtle nature of systemic racism was on full display at the recent Our Revolution Somerville (ORS) candidates forums. This organization, which is now a puppet of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Boston chapter, claims to be committed to ending systemic racism, but cannot see their own role in perpetuating white supremacy. 

The subtlety of systemic racism can be difficult to spot for the uninformed voter, but glaring when given context.  DSA Boston are running three at large candidates and three candidates in wards two, five and seven.  All but one of these candidates are white.  Their main opponents are all members of the BIPOC community. 

In the final section of the forum, all candidates were given specific questions meant for them.  Knowing that all the DSA endorsed candidates are already favored by ORS over their BIPOC opponents, the biased questions are insultingly obvious.  Watch the debates and judge for yourselves.

https://youtu.be/-y9z40Z6w4Q?t=4452
https://youtu.be/-veu4SwFiZU?t=5699

Ward 2

Incumbent JT Scott is facing off against challenger Stephenson Aman, a disabled African American man and former affordable housing tenant.  Stephenson is well known amongst housing activists and has served on numerous boards and commissions. Unfortunately, Stephenson was denied entry into this forum by ORS leadership.  The organizers said he submitted his application too late.  Artificial deadlines are often a tool of white supremacists to keep control over low income BIPOCS, according to organizer-scholars Tema Okun and Keith Jones. To make matters worse, ORS organizers asked Stephenson if he wrote the responses himself. How many white candidates were asked such an offensive question? 

Stephenson was not allowed to attend, but his opponent JT was handled with kid gloves.  The moderator highlighted JT’s immaculate questionnaire and voting record.  “However, on issues where you don’t align with your colleagues, how to you approach persuasion and coalition building to make sure that our shared values are actually implemented in city policy?” 

JT Scott is the person I hold most responsible for the toxic political atmosphere in Somerville. It is no surprise to me that his candidate specially was excluded and he was given such a loaded question.  Since his question was so farcical, I’d like to respond for him, which can serve as a message for the entire exclusive movement: “We can approach coalition building by including people, not excluding them. We can persuade people through thoughtful debate, not bullying and public humiliation.  We can implement our shared values by valuing diversity of people and of opinions.  We can build a movement by amplifying the voices of the voiceless, not using the movement to promote ourselves.

Ward 5

This vacant seat has three candidates vying for the position, but only two candidates attended. Beatriz Gómez Mouakad, a Puerto Rican architect and immigrant rights activist, is running against Tessa Bridge, a white DSA member who works during the day as … an anti-racism instructor! One of the biggest core values of anti-racism is to step aside and allow people of color to have power and represent themselves.  The irony seems to be lost on Tessa and her supporters.

After outlining her stated commitment of doing regular canvassing of her neighborhood, a basic task of any campaign, the moderator asks “what concrete steps are you committed to doing ongoing constituent outreach?” Tessa of course thought that this was a great question.

Beatriz was less pleased with her question. The moderator called her out for not having an issues page on her website.  They go on to question her knowledge on community issues.  “Why should our members and the Somerville voters elect you if you are unable to take clear positions in advance on longstanding issues where data and experience has been developed over years and is already well known to the public?”

Beatriz responds by saying she has been busy helping the Latinx community recover from Covid-19. “My boots are on the ground. I feel very offended that you said I don’t know issues.”

Ward 7

In another open seat, Judy Pineda Neufeld, a Latinx community organizer who works teaching women how to run for office, is running against Becca Miller, a white DSA member.  Judy is asked why she won’t commit to defunding the police arbitrarily by 10 percent every year until they don’t exist. It is clear her answers didn’t please the group, despite the fact she has experience on the state level addressing police reform.

Becca is asked a far easier question. The moderator explains that both of Becca’s opponents want to reduce the carbon footprint of the city by 2050, but Becca wants to reduce the carbon footprint by 2030, a proposal they call “bold.” The word “bold” is used frequently to describe DSA candidate proposals during what are supposed to be hardest questions of the night.  “How will you work with your colleagues to pursue this bold goal of climate justice?” Becca of course thanked the moderator for this freebie.

At large

There are eight candidates running at large for four seats.  One candidate is Tracey Pratt, an African American teacher and co-founder of Just Us Somerville, a group that represents the BIPOC community.  The moderator criticizes Tracey for calling for “partnerships” between the police and schools for “restorative justice” and once again calls on her to support cutting the police by ten percent a year. The audacity to ask a school teacher who dedicates her life to helping black and brown children about her commitment to them!

By contrast, Eve Seitchik, a white DSA member, was asked about their “bold ideas” twice, with the same language used for other DSA candidates.  “How will you work with your colleagues to pursue these bold goals around housing justice?”

“I love this question!” Eve responded. Of course you do.

ORS has one black candidate, Willie Burnley, who they accept because he promotes their rigid ideology. This promotion of BIPOC members who legitimize their views over anyone who may dissent is highlighted in a question they asked all candidates.  “How have you reached out BIOPIC and GLBTQ people who support defunding the police?” Shouldn’t the question be “how have you reached out to BIPOC and GLBTQ residents, period?” This is a clear sign that the only black lives that matter are the ones that agree with them.

Conclusion

Systemic racism can take many forms.  It can be in the form of a white person spitting in your face, or it could be the subtle manipulations white people use to maintain power over people of color. This year Somerville residents have a choice they have never had in city history: directly support people of color running for office to represent themselves, or support a well-organized slate of young white professionals who decided that they can represented us better than ourselves.  I can only pray for our most vulnerable residents that you make the right choice. To be transparent and so people don’t ask, I did ask someone to help with my grammar.