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Stand in Support

The Person of the Week profile on Devan Cowles-Garcia [“Cowles-Garcia Retreads Activist Path at The Country School,” April 1], starting with the mention of a racist Zoom-bombing of a Madison Diversity and Inclusion Committee meeting, struck a chord. I support and applaud her courage to stand as a witness to racism in our community. I was also saddened, but not surprised, that her experience was challenged in a letter to the editor [April 15 letter “We Are Going Backwards” by Peter Loftus].

Is it human nature to discount experiences of racism when there is no personal knowledge or observation of this hurt? A letter questioned the veracity of the experience, “how bad could these experiences be, given your attendance at such a privileged and private school..?”

So, I write to say, I’ve heard Ms. Garcia-Cowles, and I believe her. I am grateful that she has offered us her experience and stand in support of her efforts to continue to work for justice and an anti-racist culture. She has been heard and believed.

Annette Chittenden

Madison