Group rallies around diversity

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Group rallies around diversity Tuesday, November 25, 2003

D. Craig MacCormack (North Attleboro) Metrowest Daily News

FRAMINGHAM -- A standing-room-only crowd packed the Ablondi Room in the Memorial Building yesterday for a two-hour discussion on how to promote the town's diversity, saying more must be done to celebrate cultures.
Stung by criticism from a group opposed to the town's illegal immigrants, the roundtable drew about 75 people, well beyond the expectations of organizers.
Some pushed for cultural rallies and celebrations, while others said that is not enough to rid the town of an underlying tone of hatred toward people from other countries.
"It's cozy to have a party, but the people in this room are probably the only people who would show up," said Edna Smith, chairman of the board of directors for MetroWest Health Care Foundation.
"The people causing this hate aren't going to be there, and those are the people we need to reach with this message," she said.
The group -- called together by selectmen Chairman Charles Sisitsky, SMOC Planning Director Gerry Desilets and state Rep. Deborah Blumer -- will meet again Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. in the Ablondi Room.
They plan to develop a statement that addresses the sense of insecurity and fear some immigrants in town feel after a Nov. 13 meeting of Concerned Citizens and Friends of Immigration Law Enforcement.
At that gathering, co-founder Joe Rizoli said the town was being "raped" by illegals. Nancy Morse, executive director of the MetroWest Latin American Center, has gotten "hate messages" since decrying CCFILE's position.
"People aren't even making the distinction between documented (people) and undocumented," she said. "They're targeting all immigrants."
Diversity and multiculturalism are prominent among the lessons in schools, said Superintendent of Schools Chris Martes, but the message is being lost among some of the town's grownups.
"It looks like we need to do a better job of educating adults on this issue," he said.
Teacher Esta Montano agreed with Martes. "I'm worried about the message our children are getting from all of this."
Edwina Weston-Dyer sees trouble among the words and beliefs of people who want to push people out of town.
"When you read what's in the news, you have to believe, where there's smoke, there's fire," she said. "We shouldn't be in fear here. Hopefully we can relate that."
John Freitas, a member of the Brazilian American Association, said Rizoli's view that immigrants view Framingham as "the Wild West" was dead wrong.
"What I read in the paper went against everything I see here in this community," he said.
But longtime Town Meeting member Victor Ortiz, a Puerto Rican born in the United States, knows the prejudice in Framingham is deep-rooted. He has tried to laugh it off, he said.
"I had someone once tell me I should go back home," he said. "So I did. I went home and had lunch."
State Rep. Karen Spilka called the outpouring "an opportunity to come out with a much stronger Framingham," while state Sen. David Magnani said the crowd "speaks volumes about what Framingham is."
Carlos DaSilva of the Massachusetts Association of Portuguese Speakers, said he was "saddened" by CCFILE's words. He said the town should pursue a legislative punishment for people who promote hate.
"I don't want the flames to get any bigger than they are," he said.
Vera Dias Freitas, a BRAMAS member and business owner, sees CCFILE's stance similar to the way her mother explained Satan: a cotton-shoed enemy who springs up when you least expect it.
"Hate is surrounding us," she said. "It's easy to target Brazilians, because most of them are first-generation immigrants. They're not going to target the Italian or Irish in this manner."
Andrew Tarsy, civil rights counsel for the Anti-Defamation League, expects the divisive words to bring the community closer together.
"This is an aberration, but I think it deals with what is immediately below the surface," he said. "We want to educate people who aren't looking to hear the message."
The fear is not felt only by Brazilians, said Margo Deane, executive director of the Framingham Coalition for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
"If we're talking about welcoming, it has to be more than one group of people," she said.

Group rallies around diversity	Tuesday, November 25, 2003
D. Craig MacCormack (North Attleboro)	Metrowest Daily News
FRAMINGHAM -- A standing-room-only crowd packed the Ablondi Room in the Memorial Building yesterday for a two-hour discussion on how to promote the town's diversity, saying more must be done to celebrate cultures. Stung by criticism from a group opposed to the town's illegal immigrants, the roundtable drew about 75 people, well beyond the expectations of organizers. Some pushed for cultural rallies and celebrations, while others said that is not enough to rid the town of an underlying tone of hatred toward people from other countries. "It's cozy to have a party, but the people in this room are probably the only people who would show up," said Edna Smith, chairman of the board of directors for MetroWest Health Care Foundation. "The people causing this hate aren't going to be there, and those are the people we need to reach with this message," she said. The group -- called together by selectmen Chairman Charles Sisitsky, SMOC Planning Director Gerry Desilets and state Rep. Deborah Blumer -- will meet again Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. in the Ablondi Room. They plan to develop a statement that addresses the sense of insecurity and fear some immigrants in town feel after a Nov. 13 meeting of Concerned Citizens and Friends of Immigration Law Enforcement. At that gathering, co-founder Joe Rizoli said the town was being "raped" by illegals. Nancy Morse, executive director of the MetroWest Latin American Center, has gotten "hate messages" since decrying CCFILE's position. "People aren't even making the distinction between documented (people) and undocumented," she said. "They're targeting all immigrants." Diversity and multiculturalism are prominent among the lessons in schools, said Superintendent of Schools Chris Martes, but the message is being lost among some of the town's grownups. "It looks like we need to do a better job of educating adults on this issue," he said. Teacher Esta Montano agreed with Martes. "I'm worried about the message our children are getting from all of this." Edwina Weston-Dyer sees trouble among the words and beliefs of people who want to push people out of town. "When you read what's in the news, you have to believe, where there's smoke, there's fire," she said. "We shouldn't be in fear here. Hopefully we can relate that." John Freitas, a member of the Brazilian American Association, said Rizoli's view that immigrants view Framingham as "the Wild West" was dead wrong. "What I read in the paper went against everything I see here in this community," he said. But longtime Town Meeting member Victor Ortiz, a Puerto Rican born in the United States, knows the prejudice in Framingham is deep-rooted. He has tried to laugh it off, he said. "I had someone once tell me I should go back home," he said. "So I did. I went home and had lunch." State Rep. Karen Spilka called the outpouring "an opportunity to come out with a much stronger Framingham," while state Sen. David Magnani said the crowd "speaks volumes about what Framingham is." Carlos DaSilva of the Massachusetts Association of Portuguese Speakers, said he was "saddened" by CCFILE's words. He said the town should pursue a legislative punishment for people who promote hate. "I don't want the flames to get any bigger than they are," he said. Vera Dias Freitas, a BRAMAS member and business owner, sees CCFILE's stance similar to the way her mother explained Satan: a cotton-shoed enemy who springs up when you least expect it. "Hate is surrounding us," she said. "It's easy to target Brazilians, because most of them are first-generation immigrants. They're not going to target the Italian or Irish in this manner." Andrew Tarsy, civil rights counsel for the Anti-Defamation League, expects the divisive words to bring the community closer together. "This is an aberration, but I think it deals with what is immediately below the surface," he said. "We want to educate people who aren't looking to hear the message." The fear is not felt only by Brazilians, said Margo Deane, executive director of the Framingham Coalition for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. "If we're talking about welcoming, it has to be more than one group of people," she said.

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