Fenway Health strongly condemns the extremely upsetting events that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia over the weekend. A planned rally by Nazis and white supremacists wielding lit torches to protest the removal of a statue memorializing Robert. E. Lee featured verbal attacks and chanting against African Americans, Jewish communities, Muslims and LGBTQ communities. The protest also saw violence perpetrated against these communities and even a domestic terrorist attack, when a participant drove his car into a group of peaceful counter-protesters. One woman was killed, and 19 others were injured. Additionally, two police officers died in an unrelated accident when their helicopter crashed. It was one of the largest public displays of white nationalism this country has seen in decades. The president’s confusing response, in which he condemned the violence committed on “many sides,” was praised by leading neo-Nazis as “really, really good” and further upset many of us who were already rattled by the Nazi rally.
This weekend’s violence is perhaps the most extreme example of the rise in bias-motivated physical and verbal assaults occurring this year in Massachusetts and throughout the country. In these times, it is more important than ever that we support one another, especially members of communities being targeted for hate crimes, including African Americans, Muslims, transgender people, and the broader lesbian, gay and bisexual community. In addition to providing quality care, we conduct research that helps guide policies and legislation to protect and enhance the well-being of marginalized communities.
One of the values laid out in Fenway Health’s strategic plan is to “Establish and maintain an organization that reflects the ethnic, racial, socio-economic and gender diversity of the community and manifests an acceptance and understanding of all people.” Fenway Health remains committed to this value today more than ever. Racism, white supremacy and other forms of hate have no place here, and we will continue our work to ensure that all of us have access to high quality health care and the basic rights to live happy and healthy lives.