By Josh Resnek
It is one thing for the Leader Herald to work in a vacuum for five years, publishing investigative reporting and stand- ing alone and discriminated against and retaliated against by city hall.
Until this year, we were fighting alone against the excesses and the inequities of city hall.
Now, we are not alone.
During this time the people of Everett have decided to be heard, to be unafraid about speaking out in public. Protesting is no longer a sin. It is a demand.
During the past three months the Boston Globe has published approximately nine articles about chaos, racism, protest and upheaval in Everett.
When the outside world comes inside, watch out!
One such article, by reporter Stephanie Ebbert, stands as the outsider’s magnum opus of such reporting.
Ebbert reported on her piece for several months, interviewing more than 100 people, and finally being published on the front page, with two full inside pages in the Sunday Globe recently.
Locally, it was a sensation among those who read it.
It was followed by an Adrian Walker piece that was used as a news report and as an editorial piece.
The Globe’s investigative reporter Andrea Estes and columnist Yvonne Abraham also sounded off on the situation here.
Then came the television stations, and Liz Neisloss from WGBH.
Neisloss was a CNN reporter covering Asia – Singapore and India – for longer than a decade.
Another ultimate moment of the outside coming inside was Attorney General Maura Healey demanding Anthony DiPierro’s resignation on the Jim Braude and Marjory Egan Radio Show.
The outside reporting has had its power to move the earth a bit – not quite as much as the Leader Herald, but then, this is our city, our neighborhood, our people, and we struggle to put a harsh light on those who are racist, sexist, discriminatory and who retaliate against Everett residents who dare to speak out or to stand up and to be counted
The Leader Herald has done its bit for the past five years.
Now, however, a harsh light has been placed on Everett by the outside news media who have all come to realize that something is going on here.
It’s a bit like the lyrics from the famous Buffalo Springfield/Neil Young classic song:
“For What It’s Worth”
There’s something happening here
But what it is ain’t exactly clear
There’s a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it’s time we stop
Children, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?
There’s battle lines being drawn
Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
It’s time we stop
Hey, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?
What a field day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and they carrying signs
Mostly say, “Hooray for our side”
It’s time we stop
Hey, what’s that sound?
Everybody look, what’s going down?
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you’re always afraid
Step out of line, the men come and take you away
Some Everett people believe there is a revolution underway.
Others believe nothing will change.
There are those lost for words about the racism, sexism discrimination and retaliation that pollutes so much of public life here.
And there are those who came here to live from other countries, with different color skin who speak with accents wish- ing, hoping and praying that things change in Everett.
Whatever happens, we know this, the outside media will not stop looking inside Everett.
With a Federal investigation now going on, you can be sure television cameras set up in front of Everett City Hall will be a regular thing.
You can bet on it.