THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2022 Page 15 RUNNERS | FROM Page 2 First-place winner EJ Murphy, 50, crossed the fi nish line at 18:52. City Council President Gerry Visconti walked in the event. John DiLiegro was a fi tness enthusiast. Second-place winner Timothy Baxter, 50, crossed the fi nish line at 19:28. Fourth-place winner Miguel Ochoa, 23, of Revere, crossed the fi nish line at 21:40. Fourth-place winner Miguel Ochoa, 23, of Revere, ran a 6:59 minute mile. Third-place winner Mia Waldron, 13, of Revere, crossed the fi nish line at 21:01 during Sunday’s John DiLiegro memorial race at A.C. Whelan School. GONE MAD | FROM Page 5 This runs contrary to everything happening at the national level, which at one time we could simply ignore and focus on issues close to the hearts of Reverians. At one time, the issues and mindsets on the national political stage had little in common with what was happening on Broadway and what people were thinking in our city. Those times are over now, as the bombardment of social media, and media in general, has woven national political tactics into the discourse of our local and municipal discussions. No longer can we shake our heads and ignore the spew of Washington, D.C., as a problem only “down there.” It is here in our city. It is on the doorsteps of our community. This might be new to us, but history shows that such venom is not new to the United States – and not even to Massachusetts. In 1851, our own U.S. Senator, Charles Sumner, was violently beaten on the fl oor of the U.S. Senate by South Carolina Senator Preston Brooks – in what became known nationwide as the “caning” of Sumner. The beating, the result of deep divisions among ideology leading to the Fifth-place winner Rick Gately, 51, of Revere, crossed the fi nish line at 22:14. Civil War. It is the distant past, but it feels like history could repeat itself any day now – like on January 6th in our Nation’s Capital – and even now, perhaps even in Revere City Hall? Neighbors, citizen volunteers and fellow residents were harassed and intentionally made to fear their participation in open forums meant to bring us closer together. Let me be very clear, the Human Rights Commission is not going anywhere, and their work is valued more now than ever as exhibited by a vocal few in attendance at their last meeting. We only need to look at the Civil War memorial next door to Revere City Hall to remember those from Revere (then North Chelsea) who were dragged from their comfortable homes to fi ght in a bloody war because so many like Brooks and Sumner could not fi nd civility and didn’t carefully consider their words and actions. It is time to stop demonizing each other – professing that everyone who disagrees with one’s viewpoint is wrong, or worse, ‘evil.’ The inciteful tactics, ranting and name-calling at City Hall with those that have diff erent opinions will not result in better democracy or a better City Revere resident Zack Carifio, 21, ran a 30:15 5K, followed by Erin Furey, 20, who ran a 30:17 5K. He placed 67th overall. of Revere. We have a duty to uphold the civility of the public square and to respect our neighbors around us, and at this moment there seems to be a real threat to that at our grassroots level of municipal government. Our city is changing – that is true – but our values and our shared interest in a better life for our children and next generation is not. Just how and what we do to get there is up for debate – but I assure you all this – the debate will be civil, and the behavior exhibited at the last HRC meeting will not be tolerated.
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