NANTUCKET Two Black residents of Nantucket have sued several town officials, claiming they were “muzzled” when they asked why the investigation into racist graffiti at the African Meeting House was taking so long.
James Barros and Rose Marie Samuels filed suit against the town, Select Board, town administrator and the police chief, saying their freedom of speech was violated during public meetings and their right to access the meeting house without threats or intimidation was violated by whoever did the graffiti.
“Unhappy with the content of Ms. Samuel’s and Mr. Barros’s exercise of their free speech rights criticizing the Nantucket Police Department, the Town Administrator, and the Select Board … immediately sought to silence their speech through threats, intimidation, or coercion,” the suit read.