Middletown Township Board of Supervisors •
January 05 2022
A letter to the Middletown Township community condemning hate speech.
At a recent public meeting of the Middletown Township Board of Supervisors, a resident presented information concerning hate speech allegedly disseminated in our community via social media. As public officials in Middletown Township, we are elected to represent a diverse community of individuals and it is our duty to speak out when any individual or group feels they have been bullied or discriminated against. Our responsibility as public officials is to foster an inclusive community that empowers all people to succeed regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, ability, or gender. Hate speech erodes this progress. We, the Middletown Township Board of Supervisors, condemn all forms of hate speech.
Middletown Township is a community of hardworking, intelligent, and passionate individuals. Our ability to engage each other in civil discourse is one of the fundamental elements of our society which we are privileged to practice freely in the United States. Social media and the internet allow us to communicate with the world faster and wider than ever before. Our democracy thrives when we express our opinions and share our worldviews. However, this does not justify sharing views that marginalize and disrespect certain members of the community.
Now more than ever, we must understand that our words have the power to be destructive and lethal. We, the Middletown Township Board of Supervisors, stand united against hate speech in our community. All people deserve the right to live in our community and nation without prejudice. Hate speech is not welcome in Middletown Township.
Sincerely,
Middletown Township Board of Supervisors
Mike Ksiazek, Chair
Anna Payne, Vice Chair
Dawn Quirple, Secretary
Bernadette Hannah
Dana Kane