MA Rep. Jack Lewis Asked Framingham Dems Chair To Step Down

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The Framingham Democratic Committee and the group's chair, Mike Hugo, continue to face backlash over Hugo's recent comments about children with disabilities.

Now, another powerful Framingham Democrat has added his voice to the discussion.

Rep. Jack Lewis released a lengthy statement on Thursday afternoon. In that note, he said that he asked Hugo to step down from his role before the committee's Sunday meeting, where they voted against considering that.

Lewis said that, as a member of the committee, he believes Hugo's leadership role continues to hinder the healing process.

Read his statement below in full:

"What has occurred in Framingham over the last several weeks has been deeply painful. The movements for disability rights and reproductive equity are both deeply rooted in a commitment to bodily autonomy. Mike Hugo's comments before the city council last month were offensive, hurt the progress of these movements, and do not represent my views or those of other leaders advocating for reproductive and disability rights. I join my colleagues in disavowing and denouncing his words.

In the week that followed Hugo's remarks before the city council, I reached out to Hugo directly and implored him to voluntarily step down as chair of the Framingham Democratic Committee. I feared, in addition to the pain caused by his testimony, that his remarks would be used to force a wedge between the disability and reproductive rights communities, fabricating a tension that doesn't exist and only harming our ability to truly protect and expand bodily autonomy. His ongoing leadership of the Framingham Democratic Committee is a decision that belongs to the committee, but as a member of that Committee and as one of Framingham’s state representatives, I continue to believe that his leadership of the group inhibits personal healing and community reconciliation and further emboldens those who oppose reproductive equity and access to comprehensive sexual healthcare.

I firmly believe in the power of seeking forgiveness and sincerely working toward reconciliation and redemption, and I am hopeful that Hugo will listen and further understand the harm he has caused.

I urge community members to support the efforts of statewide and national organizations to expand and protect abortion access, reproductive justice, and disability rights, and to resist efforts that seek to divide us. It is only by working at the intersection of our movements and our struggles that we will all move forward together."

A motion to remove Framingham Democratic Committee Chair Mike Hugo from his position was voted down at a Sunday meeting.

Hugo came under fire after comments he made at a City Council meeting about children with disabilities. The statement was met with swift reaction from locals, and then began to make national headlines, with the story featured on the New York Post and Fox News.

The motion at the recent meeting wasn't a vote to remove Hugo. It was instead a vote to create an agenda item for the committee's next meeting to consider his removal.

The motion was voted down with 16 votes against, 11 in favor and one abstention.

Hugo issued an apology recently after comments he made while discussing crisis pregnancy centers and abortion also included a question about who is financially responsible for children with disabilities.

In his apology, Hugo said the letter sent to the City Council didn't properly reflect his thoughts on the issue.

The executive committee of the Framingham Democrats issued a statement following Hugo's apology, noting that they've put new protocols in place to prevent these mistakes with future communications.

You can read both of these statements in the story linked here: Framingham Democrats Update Protocols After Chair's Abortion Comments

Despite the apology and the change to procedures, a standout was hosted on Tuesday at City Hall.

An event listing on Facebook said the standout, which was organized to take place before a City Council meeting the same night, is meant "to show support for the Special Needs Community."