Gerly Adrien – Everett Leader Herald

Investigation into missing council video continues

Everett City Hall. (Photo by Jim Mahoney)

By JOSH RESNEK

Two weeks ago, an investigation was ordered when a City Council tape of a racially charged meeting disappeared, was destroyed, or was stolen.

When a Boston Globe reporter asked the City Communications director for a copy of the Zoom recording, she was informed that someone had hacked into the City of Everett server and deleted the recording of the meeting and the post-meeting assault fest.

Many expressed first thoughts that went like this: what an amazing coincidence? Of all the files that could have been deleted, that was the one file that miraculously vanished.

The attacks on Councilor at Large Gerly Adrien had been erased, or so it appeared.

An Immaculate Deletion?

No apologies forthcoming from the Council

At the City Council’s meeting two weeks ago, most of the council derided Councilor-at-Large Gerly Adrien for not attending the meeting in person.

Adrien felt their comments had racial overtones, especially the suggestion by several of the councilors who should have known better, who asked her to resign if she couldn’t do the job.

The meeting was ugly, a textbook example of mostly white councilors disturbed by having to serve with an assertive Black woman on the Council.

Adrien topped the ticket.

That gets her no respect from the present crew on the Council. With the notable exception of Councilor Fred Capone, Adrien has met the wrath of nearly every councilor since joining the body.

She is too noisy for the others. She is too concerned about things like racism, equality, servicing the poor and needy to have a positive impact on the crew she is sitting with as a councilor.

They don’t like her, and they let her know this.

Mystic Valley Area branch of the NAACP throws support behind Gerly Adrien at rally

The Mystic Valley Are Branch of the NAACP fully supports Councilor Adrien in remaining on the city council, as well as attending meetings remotely to protect her family during the pandemic.

The Mystic Valley Area Branch of the NAACP fully stands behind councilor Adrien in remaining on the Everett City Council. Furthermore, with COVID-19 infection rates rising nationwide, as well as Everett being a hot spot in Massachusetts, we understand and appreciate her concerns for wanting to attend meetings remotely at this present time.

200 Adrien supporters rally at city hall, decry racism

Supporters hold signs during a rally for City Councilor Gerly Adrien, the first women of color elected to the Everett City Council, at Everett City Hall on November 9, 2020. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso)

Call out mayor, council for being stuck in ‘old days’, say they’re over

By JOSH RESNEK

Councilor-at-Large Gerly Adrien addressed several hundred protestors in front of city hall late Monday afternoon.

The event was intended to shout out publicly the perceived racist attacks in Everett on Adrien by her colleagues on the city council.

The protest was a response to the personal attacks launched against Adrien two weeks ago by councilors for not attending the meeting in person.

They later asked Adrien to resign.

Adrien chose attendance on ZOOM out of consideration for her health, and the health of family members living with her.

City technicians couldn’t manage to run the audio properly for the public airing of the city council hearing, which ended in turmoil when the meeting was cut short and adjourned.

Councilors then verbally attacked her.

She insisted it was her right to stay away from the city council chamber because of the COVID-19.

Everett residents, organizers, elected officials demand an end to bigotry and racism from members of Everett City Council

Rally planned in support of Everett City Councilor Gerly Adrien outside of Everett City Hall

Leader Herald Staff Report

In recent weeks, Everett’s first Black female councilor has been subjected to a myriad of what she calls ‘unacceptable’ treatment from her council colleagues. As a response, she’s organized a rally to decry racism within Everett’s council chamber.

The rally is scheduled for today outside the main entrance of Everett City Hall from 5 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., with many guest speakers attending, including city councilors and school committee members from Chelsea, Medford, Malden, Winthrop and Boston, respectively.

Below are all the details of the rally, including who will be in attendance:

MC Hosted By Tamika Bispham / Tito Jackson

1. Founder of Violence in Boston Monica Cannon-Grant – 5 min

2. Everett Resident #1 – Lydia Lopez and her mom – 2 min

3. Everett Resident #2 – Hantzley Audete – 2 min

4. Everett Resident #3 – Allie Rojaas- 2 min

5. Executive Director of Everett Haitian Community Center, Reverend Myrlande Desrosiers – 2 min

6. Executive Director of La Comunidad, Inc., Antonio Amaya – 2 min

7. Executive Director of Union of Minority Neighborhoods Horace Smalls and Director of Organizing Matthew Parker – 5 min

8. Chelsea City Councilor Damali Vidot, – 3 min

9. Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia – 5 min

10. Haitian Community Activist Jean Claude Sanon – 5 min

11. Gerly Adrien with Husband, David Lindsey – 5 min

Other Confirmed Guests:

· Chynah Tyler (Boston State Rep)

· Ayesha Wilson (Cambridge School Committee)

· Dimple Rana (Revere Activist)

· Zac Bears (Medford City Councilor)

· Name (Medford School Committee)

· Amanda Lineham (Malden City Council)

· Boston Teachers Union Political Director Johnny McGinnis

· Boston School Bus Drivers Union President and Director Andre Francois and Steven McGillis

· Valentino Capobianco (Winthrop School Committee)

The event is open to the public with all encouraged to attend.