MHRC History

Established in 1992 by Mayor Richard Lyons and the Board of Aldermen (City of Melrose Revised Ordinances, Chapter 15, Article X), the Commission addresses issues of human and civil rights, with the goals of reinforcing a positive atmosphere in the community, of preventing problems before they arise, and of resolving them if they do

On October 9, 1989, a Melrose family woke to find racial slurs painted on a wall in the front of their home. Reacting with a mixture of horror and shame, the mother ran out with a pail of water and cleaner and began scrubbing the graffiti off. The incident might have gone unnoticed except for the actions of Charlie Harak, a member of the Melrose Fair Housing Advisory Committee, who was driving to work after dropping his son off at day care. Charlie pulled over, got out of his car, and offered help and support. He knew that it was important to notify the police so that photos could be taken before the graffiti was scrubbed off. The defacing of property with racial slurs is a civil rights violation and punishable under the law. In order to prosecute, the police must have evidence, which a photo would provide.

Community leaders were outraged and resolved to do something about the negative image that the graffiti represented. A letter to the editor of the Melrose Free Press, signed by members of the Melrose Clergy Association and printed in the October 19 issue, asked “every member of this community to speak out against any racist incidents, no matter how minor they may at first seem, so that the seed of racism will not be allowed to grow.” People responded to this call to action by forming the Melrose Human Rights Coalition.

Formed under the guidance of Sherrie Saint-Amant, Chair, Melrose Fair Housing Advisory Committee, Erskine White, Minister, First Congregational Church, and Michael Marcus, President, Temple Beth Shalom, the Coalition first met in December, 1989. Representatives from many houses of worship, the Melrose Public Schools, the League of Women Voters, the Chamber of Commerce, the Melrose Arts Council, the Melrose Police Department, and many social service organizations met regularly at the First Congregational Church. Founding members include: Linda Benezra, David Driscoll, Joan Driscoll, Maureen Elia, Jean Gorman, Christine Goulding, Charlie Harak, Maureen Hickey, Nancy Kukura, Paul Lassiter, Jane Lavender, Lisa Metz, Dan O’Neill, Phil Pendleton, Fred Rosseland, Edith Smolens, Amy Spollett, Marilyn Weddleton, Joan Wilcox, and Ed Wright. Middlesex District Attorney Scott Harshbarger designated Steve Limon, an assistant district attorney, to be liaison to the Coalition.

The Melrose Human Rights Coalition, over a period of 2 years, studied the responses of other municipalities to civil rights violations. During this period, the Melrose Police Department, under the guidance of newly designated Civil Rights Officer, Sgt. Dan O’Neill, adopted a protocol for responding to civil rights violations. To complement this, a “call list” was established to ensure that appropriate community members would be notified should another incident occur. Dr. David Driscoll, Superintendent of Schools, designated Human Rights Coordinators at each level of the school system. The first coordinators were Freeman Frank, High School, Joan Driscoll, Middle School, and Edith Smolens, elementary schools. The Coalition formed an Education Committee to assist the new Coordinators in gathering and disseminating information on multicultural and anti-racism programs and materials. During this period, Maureen Elia and Christine Goulding studied local human rights organizations in several Massachusetts communities. Early in 1991, they recommended that work start on the creation of a local governmental commission. Coalition members agreed that a commission would be the most effective way to ensure a systemic response to civil rights incidents, as well as providing a local resource for educational initiatives.

Alderman John Dunne worked with Maureen Elia, Christine Goulding, and Sherrie Saint-Amant to draft the language of a proposed ordinance. On September 16, 1991, the Board of Aldermen, under the leadership of President Donald Conn, voted to amend Revised Ordinances, Chapter 2, by adding a new Article XIX “Human Rights Commission”. Mayor James Milano signed the order, deferring to the new soon-to-be-elected mayor for the appointment of the first Commissioners.

Mayor Richard Lyons appointed the following Commissioners in April, 1992: Peg Botte, Judy Clark, Maurice Donovan, Joe Flatley, Ed McNeely, Thomas Rice, Sherrie Saint-Amant, Edith Smolens, and Robert Wallace. A highlight of the first year was an evening of focus group discussions with 52 Melrose residents representative of a range of ages, religions, races, ethnicity, family status, and level of participation in community activities. Participants were asked:

1. What do you like about Melrose, that you don’t want to see change?
2. How does intolerance or prejudice manifest itself in Melrose?
3. What should be done to build tolerance?
4. What can you individually do to build tolerance?

Results of the discussions were published and are available through the Commission.

Early in 1993, Lisa Bartolet, a community member of the Education and Community Outreach Committee, created an information flyer for the Commission. In addition, David Simko, of the same committee, produced a bumper sticker using the Commission slogan “Melrose: One Community Open to All”. A banner with this slogan was also purchased. It is posted in the Mayor’s Conference Room in City Hall and is available for use at community functions. The spring and summer of 1993 was a troublesome time, however, with 8 hate incidents, including distribution of hate literature. In response, Mayor Lyons called together a group of community leaders to discuss a response beyond the initial institutional protocol. A task force, chaired by Andrea Taffe and Lisa Bartolet, presented the Mayor with a report on November 1, calling for a “1994 Free Our Minds” Campaign. Activities included distribution of “Free Our Minds” buttons, a “Culture Walk” at Melrose High School, a community workshop sponsored by the First Baptist Church, a public forum featuring Philip and Rosanne Perlmutter, a series of 60 second public service announcements for local cable access TV, a human rights declaration signed by over 1000 Melrose residents and published in the Melrose Free Press, and a human rights candlelight walk to open the Home for the Holidays weekend in December.

Reported hate incidents declined in 1995, 1996, and 1997, as the Commission continued its community outreach and mediation work. Yearly events now include the International Welcome Reception and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and Potluck Dinner.