Yarmouth’s shame, Martha’s Vineyard’s honor
As spawn of immigrants, how dare any of us judge and try to expel?
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
--- The message on the Statue of Liberty
Harborside Suites, the old Brentwood motel in South Yarmouth now housing migrant families, does not have a lamp beside a golden door, let alone a welcoming lady statue. But that doesn’t matter.
What matters is that the town allowed itself to be disgraced by a small, ugly group of people who would deny compassion, try to destroy the promise of our nation, and use any argument as thin veils to disguise racism.
Such people exist. But when they emerge, and they will continue to do so, our civic leaders must make sure everyone understands just how repulsive they are.
That didn’t happen in Yarmouth. At least not yet.
Meanwhile, the same week Yarmouth was allowing migrants to be targeted and vilified, Martha’s Vineyard was celebrating the one-year anniversary of the day 49 migrants arrived unannounced, exploited by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as pawns on a national political board. The Vineyard rose to the challenge last September, raised a metaphorical lamp, supported those people, then last week welcomed three-quarters of them back to the island for a joyous weekend reunion.
One town’s shame, one island’s honor.
Things got so bad in Yarmouth on Tuesday, September 12, that Selectman Daniel Horgan had to say these words to a crowd intent on expelling migrants:
“We’re talking about people here … I don’t want to lose sight of that.”
Then he decided he needed to cover his political ass by telling this wannabe mob, “I applaud your efforts. I know it takes time (to attend a public meeting); I know it takes dedication, organization.”
Yarmouth officials fell back on platitudes rather than taking a moral stand, focusing on the Commonwealth’s “poor communication and planning.”
So what? We don’t need “communication” and “planning” to treat people with respect and compassion. We just need to be human.
Here’s how outrageous the proceedings became:
Someone had the gall to suggest that these families could well be disease-ridden vectors for plague that would spread among us disease-free Americans.
Suppose those migrants had been white-skinned Ukrainians rather than black-skinned Haitians. Who would have dared say that? Would there even have been protests?
I have used an expletive only one time in this column’s years. This makes twice:
Racist bullshit.
That no one loudly, immediately called that out is a deep stain on Yarmouth’s so-called “leadership.” Here’s hoping they will try to scrub it out going forward.
During this public hearing, there also were calls from the crowd to “Send them back!”
I have first-hand understanding of what sending people back to Haiti would likely mean:
Death.
But that ultimate truth aside, here’s what I wish someone had said to those shouting:
Your ancestors surely came here from someplace else. Let’s research and see if they had all their legal papers before they arrived, or whether they faced an uncertain, dangerous trip in hopes of being granted permission to stay -- their bravery making your privileged, protected life possible.
If the latter is so, then start packing because by your reckoning you too should be “sent back” to wherever they came from.
How dare you, spawn of immigrants, judge and try to expel?
I wonder that question with such fervor that I will ask it one more time:
How dare anyone judge and try to expel these homeless, tossed souls?
A statue expressed our better selves far better than Yarmouth’s leadership. Perhaps a replica of the lady holding the torch should be planted in front of town hall, the Harborside Suites, and every busy intersection for that matter, so she can offer her welcome while silently gazing down on “protestors” who besmirch the American flags they hold.
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What to do about it? Contact town officials to voice opinion to help them seems appropriate. Read also that we “ should be housing homeless veterans “ instead. Yes we should, but not instead. Thoughtless, selfish people would do well to read ‘Rough Sleepers’ by Tracy Kidder to learn what has been done in Boston. It’s a very complex issue, but to make migrants homeless instead of assisting seems asinine and stupid.
Thank you sir for your insightful and honest article. I first read it in the very group that states they wish all parties to join - "... ALL Americans are encouraged to join this group regardless of political party-affiliation as the repercussions of this will be felt by everyone... ", then attacks anyone who raises any questions about their motives and or policies. It is a new private FB group I initially joined to get information as the Town of Yarmouth had been bypassed by the State of Mass. concerning when migrants would be arriving in locations having previously signed contracts with the State of Mass. for housing for refugees. I am appalled at the nasty turn it has taken, filling with far right garbage rehashing the false election grievances of the ginned up right and thinly veiled threats against the State and Federal Governments while also disparaging local Officials too.
The members of the group include a number of former members of the currently defunct far right Cape Cod based MAGA group deceitfully titled "UCP" (United Cape Patriots) previously headquartered in Brewster, MA. and headed and run by a person whom has since left Cape Cod for the sunny, "red" tinged skies of Florida after the last election where ALL of the extremist far right candidates he backed were soundly defeated at the polls.
They demonstrate (they call it "a stand out") using signs with deceptive mottos using veterans, elderly, and other citizens in the most ugly and deceitful way. This from right wing zealots that have themselves done little if anything to assist the elderly, veterans, and low income local residents (and right now are actively working against Yarmouth's efforts to supply some relief through a revised ADU bylaw that has been years in development) from obtaining and keeping basic housing.