BOSTON – Today, Boston’s elected officials of color, including Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07); State Representatives Russell Holmes, Brandy Fluker Oakley, Chynah Tyler, Liz Miranda, Jon Santiago, and Nika Elugardo; State Senators Lydia Edwards and Sonia Chang-Diaz; City Councilors Julia Mejia, Ruthzee Louijeune, Ricardo Arroyo, Kendra Lara, Brian Worrell and Tania Fernandes Anderson; Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins; and Suffolk County Register of Probate Felix D. Arroyo issued the following statement condemning the ongoing threats of violence and hateful attacks directed at Boston Mayor Michelle Wu: 

“From the halls of Congress, to the steps of the State House, to the chamber of Boston City Hall, we must be unapologetic in rooting out white supremacy, racism, misogyny and hate in all of its forms. Make no mistake, the relentless threats of violence and hateful attacks on Mayor Michelle Wu and her family have no place in our society and are a far cry from the political debate and peaceful dissent that is welcomed and necessary in a healthy democracy. 

“Since beginning her term, Mayor Wu has met the moment and worked tirelessly to address many of the greatest challenges facing our communities—including combatting the ongoing pandemic that has robbed us of more than 1,600 lives across the City of Boston alone. It is due to her brave and steadfast leadership, her commitment to science and the public health—including her common-sense and life-saving vaccine mandates—that the City of Boston is making necessary progress to combat this pandemic and protect our most vulnerable. 

“To remain silent is to be complicit, and as elected officials of color across the City of Boston, we will not stand by and watch as openly racist, anti-Asian and sexist rhetoric is normalized in our community. This type of vitriol, toxicity and hate is far too common for women of color in politics, and we can’t help but wonder if the same toxicity and vitriol would be directed at a mayor who wasn’t a woman, a person of color, or an unapologetic history-maker like Mayor Wu is. We stand in solidarity with her and call for an immediate end to this dangerous and hateful behavior.” 

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