To the editor:

It was pretty interesting reading Peter Hewett and Jonathan Carney’s letters to the editor side by side in last week’s paper. Peter Hewett (a member of the Bristol County Concerned Citizens group) provided a summary of the BCCC’s “forum” for Bristol Warren Regional School Committee candidates, noting that Jessica Almeida, Jarod Hazzard, Richard Ruggeiro and Bill O’Dell all attended.

Hewett praised the four, stating “the views, opinions and positions espoused by each were consistent with the traditional family values and principles reflected in the BCCC’s mission statement.

Jonathan Carney’s letter provided his own account of the event, which he attended, where he was handed a “43 page anti-trans booklet.” He also recounted Jessica Almeida’s history of speaking at school committee meetings, including one where she complained about a librarian reading a children’s book called “Were I Not a Girl.” Jonathan explained that he had reached out to Ms. Almeida after the event, asking her additional questions about her concerns with this library book, and that she did not answer the questions.

Carney went on to share a recent conversation he had had with Bristol school committee candidate William O’Dell, where he was left with the understanding that Mr. O’Dell opposed making accommodations for trans students. He shared that Mr. O’Dell also complained that he felt Pride Month and Pride Parades are “pushing things too far.”

There are eight candidates running for three Bristol School Committee seats. Please consider what one can assume about the three Bristol candidates (and one from Warren) who chose to associate with and participate in a “forum” during which anti-trans literature was distributed. Please also file away this information we have from Ms. Almeida’s prior school committee public comment remarks, and the additional information Jonathan Carney has shared about her and Mr. O’Dell.

There are plenty of candidates who believe in protecting the rights of LGBTQIA students, who understand that the values of compassion, respect, and inclusion are ones that have stood the test of time and will continue to do so. Too often “traditional values” is code for denying the human rights of others.

As an educator, I have seen the devastating effects of denying the human rights of marginalized students. I want those in positions of power for my children’s school district to acknowledge that all students are entitled to be treated with compassion, respect, and dignity.

During this fraught time, I implore you to vote for candidates who will advocate for all students, including and especially the underrepresented voices who are so often misunderstood and subjected to prejudice and discrimination.

Sara Medeiros
15 3rd St., Warren