Wayland HRDEI Committee adopts Israel-Gaza statement after debate over a single verb

WAYLAND -- October 24, 2023, Wayland HRDEI Committee adopts Israel-Gaza statement on 9-1 vote after debate over a single verb. The Human Rights, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee voted Tuesday morning to publish a community statement that names and asks residents to "reject" dehumanization, polarization and hatred "including Islamophobia and antisemitism," and that directs reports of threats to the Wayland Police and the state's End Hate Now hotline. Chair Yamini Sakar capped debate at 30 minutes, with members Karen and Mailing presenting the redraft. Member Yahoo pushed for softer, coexistence-focused language, warning the town is "not a place to solve this issue," while members Heather and Mailing argued the specific words mattered. Karen's substitution of "reject" for "stand up and speak out against" carried the compromise. Mailing cast the lone no vote, calling the final wording "a little tepid."