Editor,

The Biddeford High School’s Civil Rights Team feels strongly committed to raising awareness and fighting back against injustice in our school and community, so we are speaking out in horror in response to the incident of hate that recently occured in Biddeford. As reported in the Press Herald, two men have been charged with aggravated assault for “a racially motivated attack on the African-American as he walked toward a convenience store near his home in Biddeford on April 15.” Maine Attorney General Janet Mills has filed a Civil Complaint against these men for violating the state’s Civil Rights Act.

We are speaking out now because we believe that silence implies acceptance. We are all responsible for not only acting in ways that promote kindness, but also for rejecting, loudly, any actions by others that go against our most deeply held values. This is our community, and it is unacceptable that anyone should feel unsafe here. Biddeford has a long history of fighting back against hatred and discrimination, and this history should give us the strength to actively work toward a world where everyone feels welcome. It’s important to recognize that while this event is a blatant example of racism, microaggressions–subtle actions that demonstrate a bias against people based only on their identity–are more common and just as dangerous.

We feel lucky to attend a high school and live in a community that is increasingly diverse. This diversity has added to our understanding of the world, increased our capacity for empathy, and led to deeper connections and friendships. We work hard, both inside and outside of school, to make our communities more welcoming places, but we can’t do it alone. We need the adults in Biddeford to stand with us and reject acts of hatred both big and small. To paraphrase Audre Lorde, our silence will not protect us.

The Biddeford High School Civil Rights Team