Wayland HRDEI committee finalizes letter condemning racist graffiti at high school

WAYLAND — December 27, 2022 — Wayland's human rights committee voted unanimously to send the Select Board a letter condemning anti-Black graffiti targeting Superintendent Omar Easy and demanding nine actions in 2023. Chair Yamini Ranjan, Karen Blumenfeld and Meiling Ellermann were authorized to finalize the document, which calls for a town-wide equity audit funded in the fiscal 2024 budget, a dedicated town DEI position, mandatory bias training for all board members, and designation of a civil rights officer in the Police Department. Member Heather Pino pressed that the committee "ask that the following actions be taken," not merely propose them. Acting Police Chief Ed Burman told members three detectives, state police and the district attorney's office are investigating the Dec. 21 graffiti, with about 100 Ring cameras and four hours of cruiser video reviewed. Burman said every Wayland officer completed implicit bias training last year. The committee also voted to co-sponsor a Lunar New Year celebration Jan. 28.