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Officials call out ‘dangerous and hateful’ rhetoric directed at Wu

"We must be unapologetic in rooting out white supremacy, racism, misogyny, and hate in all of its forms," according to a statement signed by several local politicians of color.

By Rosemary Ford

February 1, 2022

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Several elected officials of color released a statement Tuesday calling for an end to the “dangerous and hateful behavior” directed at Mayor Michelle Wu.

“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,” according to the statement from Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s office.

Protestors have become a regular fixture outside of Wu’s home as well as her City Hall events. The rallies have focused on her vaccine mandates, requiring people to show proof of vaccination at certain city venues and for city workers to become fully vaccinated.

Wu has talked previously about some of the rhetoric directed at her.

“To have a chance at healing & building community, we can’t keep normalizing hate. They’ve shouted on megaphones that my kids will grow up without a mom [because] I’ll be in prison,” Wu tweeted. 

The elected officials who signed the statement were State Reps. Russell Holmes, Brandy Fluker Oakley, Chynah Tyler, Liz Miranda, Jon Santiago, and Nika Elugardo; State Sens. 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 Register of Probate Felix D. Arroyo; and Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins

“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,” the group said in the statement, before defending Wu and the mandates.

“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,” the statement reads.

It went on to say that remaining silent is to be complicit. Instead, they stand in solidarity with Wu.

“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.”