A metropolis councilor in Everett, Massachusetts, is dealing with backlash after messages he despatched to metropolis staff containing racist imagery surfaced.
Town now investigating the conduct of Anthony DiPierro and searching into some other inappropriate communication by metropolis staff and officers.
DiPierro is accused of sending memes to his colleagues that embody racist slurs. He apologized in a press release posted on social media, writing, partly, “I’m ashamed, disenchanted and embarrassed, however dedicated to enhancing.”
He additionally wrote that he has been “working with Human Assets an The Metropolis’s Director of Fairness and Inclusion to establish methods to heal each as a person and neighborhood. I will likely be enrolling in Range, Fairness and Inclusion coaching and I’ll take steps to higher perceive and be a greater individual.”
Cathy Draine, the director of variety, fairness and inclusion for Everett, couldn’t be reached for remark Thursday.
DiPierro’s guarantees didn’t fulfill Superintendent Priya Tahiliani of Everett Public Colleges, who added her voice this week to these calling on DiPierro to resign.
“In protection of our college students, employees and households, I condemn the actions of Everett Metropolis Councilor Anthony DiPierro and ask that he resign from workplace, efficient instantly,” Tahiliani mentioned throughout the Everett Faculty Committee assembly Monday. “Councilor DiPierro, I ask that you just take duty for what you may have performed, that you just step down out of your seat, and that you just spend the following yr engaged on your self and making reparations.”
DiPierro heard instantly from residents at the latest metropolis council assembly.
Janice Lark grew to become emotional throughout her public remark.
“As a girl of colour I’ve to take care of racist and ignorant folks on a regular basis,” she mentioned. “I do not need to hear these items by an individual who is meant to be representing my pursuits in metropolis council.”
“It hurts,” mentioned Guerline Alcy, a former Everett metropolis council candidate, throughout her public remark. “We all know issues go underneath the rug. Sure, they love Black folks on the subject of elections, however when one thing occurs that basically hurts our emotions, everyone stays mute, and it is not acceptable.”
“The Metropolis is investigating the conduct of Councilor DiPierro. The scope of the investigation shouldn’t be restricted to his conduct and is meant to establish and deal with inappropriate conduct and communications by any metropolis official or worker. This investigation is ongoing,” Erin C. Deveney, chief of employees to Mayor Carlo DeMaria, mentioned in a press release Thursday.
Antonio Amayo, govt director of La Comunidad, a non-profit serving immigrant communities in Everett, additionally joined in calling for the councilor’s resignation.
“Our neighborhood deserves an individual who will symbolize the problems that we’re having over right here in Everett, engaged on making a greater Everett, not making these racist feedback,” he mentioned.
Calls to DiPierro weren’t returned.