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BRATTLEBORO â Setting the town on a path toward evaluating systems and addressing injustices, the Select Board unanimously voted to authorize town staff to move forward on implementing recommendations outlined in a community safety report.
âWe acknowledge the centuries of white people holding power in our country including here in Vermont and here in Brattleboro has perpetuated systemic racism that has caused and still causes harm to people of color throughout our country,â Town Manager Peter Elwell said in a statement read at the board meeting held remotely Tuesday, adding that systemic oppression also affects the LGBTQIA+ community, people living with disabilities, psychiatrically labeled individuals and other historically marginalized groups. âWe acknowledge that, as documented in the community safety review teamâs report, people here in our community have experienced harm from the existing systems in our community. Finally, we acknowledge that as people in positions of authority today, we have an obligation to develop a more complete understanding of the harm that is being experienced and to take action to prevent and reduce such harm as we move forward from this time.â