MASK UP AND STAY SAFE ALL SUMMER! Vol.29, No.28 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday Callahan publicly sworn in as new Police Chief at City Hall ceremony 781-286-8500 Friday, July 10, 2020 Councillors targeted with graffiti threat following rally FAMILY PORTRAIT: Pictured from left, Brother RPD Sgt. Charles Callahan and wife, Amora Schena Callahan, mom Judy and father Charles Callahan, Chief David Callahan with his daughter, Cadence and wife, Rhonda. See page 10 for photo highlights. (Advocate Photo by Tara Vocino) Delay on appointment cast as resistance to racial reforms By Barbara Taormina T he decision by the City Council’s Appointments Subcommittee to postpone a decision on Dimple Rana’s appointment as Executive Director of the city’s recently resurrected Human Rights Commission continued to reverberate throughout the city this week. Last Thursday, Rana announced she was taking a leave of absence from her job as director of the city’s Healthy Community Initiatives Department to spend some time with her family and to think through the Appointments Committee’s decision. “Is it because they don’t approve of a qualifi ed individual like me? Or do they not approve of the Human Rights Commission at all?” Rana asked in a post on her Facebook page. “After the last four years that have seen an anti-immigrant rant in the Council Chamber, racial slurs shouted in the street, an Islamophobic speech in the GOP City Committee, and a city resident arrested for spraying painting swastikas on a Muslim family’s car – all in our City – it seems like we need an human rights commission now more than ever,” she said, adding that the council needs to explain itself. Councillors did not oppose reestablishing the commission, but they did have some questions about its functions and responsibilities. Rana said she would have a more precise answer after the commission reviews and updates the ordinance that created the commission decades ago. However, she did off er a general description of the commission’s role in the community. “The commission will investigate and adjudicate complaints about discrimination in the area of human rights and protect the civil rights of residents and visitors to the city,” said Rana, adding that the commission would also work on outreach and education for the community. Councillor-at-Large George Rotondo asked how that would aff ect law enforcement agencies that already investigate human and civil rights violations. Rana $1.55 GALLON We accept: MasterCard * Visa * & Discover Price Subject to Change without notice 100 Gal. Min. 24 Hr. Service 781-286-2602 said the commission would be working alongside the police and the Attorney General’s Offi ce on complaints and investigations. Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto said he wants more information about the commission and the criteria for appointing a director for what he said sounded like a powerful board. “God forbid there was any bias,” said Zambuto. “That could create a real problem for the commission.” DIRECTOR | SEE PAGE 17 THREATENING WORDS: The words “ROTONDO, ZAMBUTO, WE ARE WATCHING” are shown written in chalk on the wall outside City Hall. Councillor-at-Large George Rotondo dismissed the graffi ti as juvenile, calling it a political attack. (Courtesy photo) By Barbara Taormina T wo city councillors were the subject of some troubling graffiti recently scrawled outside of City Hall. On June 26, a Rally against Racism was held at City Hall in response to a hate crime involving swastikas spray-painted on the car of a local Muslim family. The term “white power” was also painted nearby on the street. Organized by Moroccan American Connections In Revere (MACIR), the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects (AICP) and the organizers of the Revere Black Lives Matter march held earlier in June, the rally was described as a call to action against racism in Revere. “Everyone of color in this city has a story regarding racism,” said Rashid Moukhabir, president of MACIR. “No one should have to live in fear of becoming a victim of these hate crimes. We should give these people a voice, and all of us coming together will give one another confi dence to confront this hate.” But after the rally, a message aimed at Councillors-at-Large George Rotondo and Anthony Zambuto was found written GRAFFITI | SEE PAGE 17
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