No-hate rally

Tim Leininger, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·3 min read

Dec. 8—HEBRON — The Coalition on Diversity and Equity will hold a rally on Saturday in response to a noose found at RHAM High School last month, while a local chapter of the NAACP is calling for additional charges against the teen charged in the incident.

RALLY

WHAT: The Coalition on Diversity & Equity will hold a rally in response to a noose found at RHAM High School last month.

WHEN: 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

WHERE: At the intersection of routes 66 and 85 in Hebron.

The rally will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. at the intersection of routes 66 and 85.

"We want to show our support for the RHAM community — and to all of our friends and neighbors — who have been impacted by this horrific act," said Donna Jolly, vice president of the coalition. "We're not going to sweep it under the rug."

A RHAM staff member discovered the noose in the boys locker room on Nov. 19. Less than week later, a 17-year-old boy was charged with placing a noose on the property and second-degree breach of peace after state police reviewed video surveillance and conducted several interviews.

According to its website, the Coalition on Diversity & Equity, or CoDE, is a community organization with members from Hebron, Marlborough, Andover, and Columbia. Its mission is "to build a more diverse, equitable, and vibrant community," with goals to "include increasing community awareness and equal access to housing, education, and jobs."

CoDE is is circulating a petition, which has more than 230 signatures, voicing the community's pledge to stand with their neighbors to make sure everyone feels safe and valued.

Jolly said there have been unreported incidents that she has heard about and need to be addressed as well, though she declined to say what those incidents were.

The rally's intent, she said, is to let students, parents, and the community know that CoDE has their back.

"A rally is great and it's a visible sign, but the answer is much more comprehensive and long term," she said, and that the goal is to work toward greater diversity, understanding, and education around race and racial equity.

"Hebron is 97% white," she said. "CoDE wants to make sure we are doing everything we can to increase diversity in our community. We want to make sure there is no discrimination or structural barriers to create diversity."

Leah Ralls, president of Windham/Willimantic branch of the NAACP, said the organization is looking to convince the state's attorney's office to add a hate crime charge against the teen, and get some answers as to why it happened.

"I want to know what motivated this," she said. "What triggered this young man to think this was the right thing to do, and in response to what? That's what's concerning to me and to others."

Both Jolly and Ralls said their organizations have been communicating with RHAM Superintendent Colin McNamara and intend to speak with RHAM High School Principal Scott Leslie to bring more education to the students and teachers about diversity.

"We are going to be reaching out to the community and the school to see if anybody has any input or concerns," Ralls said. "We're looking to provide support to any families that were affected by this and potential educational opportunities for teachers and students."

Ralls said she is going to encourage NAACP members join in the rally.

"I think it's great that other organizations want to step up to the plate and bring attention to acts of civil rights violation and discrimination," she said. "The NAACP doesn't hold exclusive rights to that. We want other organizations to be as vocal as we are."

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