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01/31/2018 07:00 AMRichard Bach once said, “We teach best what we need to learn.”
The Courier’s recent coverage of the program, Building a Community of Compassion [“Building a Community of Compassion in Guilford,” Nov. 30] does a beautiful job of illustrating how hatred, even at the micro-aggression level, can permeate and poison an entire community. While I applaud the community leaders who have taken up the mantle of human rights, I can’t help but feel that without addressing the glaring source of this problem, a meaningful and lasting solution will continue to elude us.
As an activist, community organizer, and founder of a non-profit, I’ve spoken with many victims of stalking, domestic violence, and hatred on the shoreline who have disclosed that their experiences with the police were humiliating, shaming, and re-traumatizing. It is my belief that prior to attempting to hold others accountable, our Police Department must be willing to hold itself accountable. The rate of domestic violence within the law enforcement profession is higher than in the general populace, and I believe abusers support and identify with other abusers.
Consequently, it came as no surprise to me when several years ago, someone spray painted swastikas on mailboxes throughout my Guilford neighborhood and my complaint was ignored.* Therefore, I was a bit confused and disappointed when Police Chief Jeff Hutchinson chose to embrace Noel Petra in the aftermath of his traumatic exposure to Asian graffiti during his morning run on the Guilford Green. Obviously Petra’s safety and feelings mattered and mine did not. This blatant sexism clearly illustrates an inappropriate bias.
In essence, it is clear to me that the Guilford Police Department along with its various supporters are in need of a public relations boost, but have no intention of honoring the human rights or civil rights of all of the people who live in Guilford.
Shawnna Armstrong
Guilford
Editor’s Note: In response to a query from the Courier, the Guilford Police Department reviewed every report on record for an instance of swastikas being painted on mailboxes; the department has no record of any such complaint.