Crime & Safety
Worcester Health Board Invites City Manager To Discuss Racism
The Board of Health's vote follows almost five months of contentious discussions on how to address institutional racism in Worcester.
WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Board of Health on Monday voted to invite City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. to the next meeting to discuss institutional racism in the city, a move that follows months of contentious discussions at board meetings over race and policing.
Monday's vote was unanimous, but board chair Edith Claros was not present due to a family health emergency. Claros had opposed previous attempts by other board members to send suggested changes to Worcester police.
The meeting on Monday began with a review of how the board started discussions on racism as a public health matter.
At the June meeting, the board put together a statement in response to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. At the next meeting on June 25, members David Fort and Chareese Allen recalled times when they felt mistreated by Worcester police. Fort also introduced 12 recommendations he wanted to send to police to address racism.
Claros called Fort's ideas "divisive," and said they could harm public health efforts that have been made to address racism.
On Aug. 24, Chief Steven Sargent and other top police leaders met with the board. Sargent remarked during the meeting that he didn't think there was any racism in the Worcester Police Department — and if there was, he would call it out.
READ: Worcester Health Board Sought To Avoid 'Berating' Of Police: Docs
Fort and other members were appalled by the remark. On Monday, Fort recalled the chief's statement as "totally disrespectful," and likened it to denying that the Holocaust or slavery ever happened.
In September, Fort asked Claros step down as the board chairwoman over her handling of the August meeting. On Oct. 5, the board held a vote of no confidence in Claros' leadership. Her term ends on Dec. 31.
The board agreed that five months after the initial June response to the Floyd killing, something more needed to be done.
"We need to work harder to end institutional racism in this city," Allen said.
The Board of Health meeting with Augustus is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 7.
