Town Issues Statement Regarding Hateful, Racist Letter Circulating in Amherst
Photo: istock
Source: amherstma.gov
On Wednesday, April 29, Town officials were notified of letters being placed on multiple vehicles in Amherst that contained hateful and racist sentiments. The Amherst Police Department (APD) immediately responded to the area and spoke with approximately seven residents who received the letter. APD has not received any notification that additional residents have received the letter.
APD, CRESS, and DEI staff reviewed the contents of the letter. The letter was addressed to “Amherst Residents” and signed by an organization referred to as the “Advancement of American Civilization.” Town staff were not able to locate any group associated with the name of the organization. They reviewed national organizations known for tracking hate groups and none had the organization listed.
The Amherst Police Department will continue to investigate this incident and monitor the situation. No information was collected that helped to identify the source of the letter. Based on the investigation to date, the criteria necessary to declare this as a hate crime does not exist under state or federal law.
Importantly, harm has been done. Harm has been felt throughout the community, and it will not be ignored. We would like to especially acknowledge the disproportionate impact the letter has on the Black and African American community.
We condemn the racist and outright inaccurate statements made within the letter regarding Black people or those of African descent. These statements are deeply upsetting and do not reflect the values of our town, which are built on principles of inclusion and respect. Everyone in our community deserves to feel safe and respected. We remain committed to ensuring all members of our community feel welcomed, accepted, and celebrated in Amherst.
Paul Bockelman, Town Manager
Pamela Nolan Young, Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Gabriel Ting, Chief of Police
Camille Theriaque, CRESS Director