Gus Bickford must be held accountable
To the editor: Gus Bickford, the chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Committee, had prior knowledge of the homophobic attack on Alex Morse during the 2020 primary for Massachusettsâ 1st Congressional District, but did nothing to stop it.
Further, some of the Massachusetts Democratic leadership, working behind the scenes, gave legal advice on the attackâs deliberately vague allegations â allegations that could have jeopardized Mr. Morseâs career and even his life. They knew they were playing with fire. But no one has been held accountable.
Homophobia has now been openly and knowingly deployed by the Massachusetts Democratic Partyâs power structure to take down a threat. Everyone saw this, and saw that no one in the Mass. Dems leadership was held accountable. With no accountability, it can and will happen again. Progressive LGBTQ+ candidates will be reluctant to challenge party-backed incumbents. This will have a chill
Democrat Ben Downing to Run for Massachusetts Governor
Former state Senator Ben Downing has announced he is entering the 2022 race for governor of Massachusetts.
Downing, a Democrat born and raised in Pittsfield, said he will run to build a fairer, stronger Massachusetts. Downing is the first person to declare candidacy in the governor s race. Republican Governor Charlie Baker has not yet revealed if he will seek a third term.
In a video released this morning, Downing said he will work for the state s forgotten regions.
“Growing up in Pittsfield, I lived what it meant to be an afterthought in the state’s political power circles,” said Downing. “Now, as an East Boston resident, I’m part of a new community just as familiar with being written off. Downing said he has lived in communities that have had to fight harder than they should to get fair representation, equitable access to resources, and attention from Beacon Hill.
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Currently Reading I don t want to be without her - Texas activists seek legal status for migrants who have sheltered in churches to escape ICE s reach
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Refugee Ivan Ramirez (center) is supported by activists Pastor Jim Rigby of Austin’s St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and Carmen Zuvieta (second from right) as they approach Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices.Photos by Kin Man Hui /Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less
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Activists Rigby, from left, Zuvieta, the Rev. Mark Skrabacz and the Rev. Erin Walter attempt to submit a document of signatures at ICE’s San Antonio field office.Kin Man Hui / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less
As legislators scrambled, Baker gained an edge in what became law
Governor won key victories in policing and housing â and rejected the Legislature on others
By Matt Stout Globe Staff,Updated January 25, 2021, 10:31 a.m.
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Last summer, Democratic
lawmakers and advocates celebrated when a wide-ranging police accountability bill easily cleared the Massachusetts House.
But the 93-66roll call worried some activists, who immediately saw something else: Not enough votes to override a potential veto from Governor Charlie Baker.
âAs soon as I saw that first House vote, I thought, âThere are too many Democrats voting against this bill,ââ said Matt Miller, cofounder of Act on Mass, a progressive advocacy group that closely follows Beacon Hill activity. âThatâs going to give him a ton of power.â