Get our newsletters
Letters to the Herald

No county or municipality is immune to attacks on diversity and inclusion

Posted

Bucks Countians who thought that the Jan. 6 insurrection was a fluke, should look to Middletown Township.
A candidate for auditor publicized her extremist, conspiratorial and racist views freely on social media – being outed by no one and winning the election. But, one person took his role as “citizen” seriously. Christopher Nowakowski learned the true political identity of Auditor Kristi Ann Morris by her extremist and antisemitic social media posts and showed that evidence to her and the supervisors. Leaders of both political parties failed the voters by not doing that before she was sworn in.
Neither Jan. 6 nor Ms. Morris are flukes. They represent a significant assault on democracy and no county or municipality is immune. We are are on notice that these misguided zealots are everywhere, waiting to infiltrate local government, undermine democracy, invalidate votes, and spread their messages under the name of “candidate.”
Every municipal board, school board, and governmental agency and entity – and both political parties at the county and local level – should know who their candidates and officials are. If Mr. Nowakowski can do it, so can they. So can we.
It is not enough to shake our heads in disgust. It doesn’t take “a village;” it takes each person speaking up for democracy, decency and truth or just “showing up” at a local event or meeting to know who stands for what.
Congressman Fitzpatrick should forcefully disavow conduct from fellow Republicans who follow the lies and theories of his party’s leaders – and the leaders themselves who promote them.
Mimi Reimel, Langhorne

Editor’s Note: The auditor resigned when her statements were brought to her attention at a public meeting. Middletown Township released the following statement.

To the Middletown Township community

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.
Middletown Township Board of Supervisors

Mike Ksiazek, Chair; Anna Payne, Vice Chair; Dawn Quirple, Secretary; Bernadette Hannah; Dana Kane


Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.


X