Central Mass. businesses denounce racism, donate to protestors' causes

Photo | Google Imperial Distributors' Worcester location

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By Monica Busch and Brad Kane

As the country continues to grapple with the May 25 police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in Minnesota, and protests against police brutality continue in cities and towns across America, including in Central Mass., business and organization leaders are stepping into the public forum to denounce systemic racism and racial violence perpetrated against black communities.

In an effort to amplify the voice of people who are protesting against institutional racism locally, the minor league Worcester Railers Hockey Club said it would donate $5,000 to the Worcester Chapter of the NAACP and another $5,000 to the Worcester Black History Project.

"Our team is proud of the thousands of residents who attended and protested at City Hall. We hear you - your message and action will help guide us to make responsible and fair business decisions," The Railers said in a statement released online.

Cliff Rucker, owner of Worcester Railers Hockey Club and the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center

"Our organization has no tolerance for racism. We value the rich diversity found throughout our city that contributes to its excitement, appeal, and beauty. We support those sharing their voice and taking a knee to raise awareness of discrimination," The Railers said.

A group of 76 businesses and nonprofits, as well as individual business people and politicians, calling themselves the Worcester Together Coalition, signed a statement denouncing the oppressive imbalances that led to the killing of Floyd, along with other people of color like Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Alton Sterling, Sandra Bland, Botham Jean, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. The Worcester Together Coalition also pointed to the nation’s history of white supremacy and structural racism as main reasons for why the coronavirus pandemic has hit the black community harder than the population at large.

"It is a legacy that we must reject and dismantle. As we seek to address the COVID-19 crisis and to build a fair and just new normal, we commit ourselves to these principles in all that we do, both individually and collectively," the coalition said.

Among the 76 signatories on the letter were Imperial Distributors of Worcester; Action! by Design by Worcester; Kimberly Salmon, the new leader of the Hanover Insurance Group Foundation; the Worcester Telegram & Gazette; UMass Memorial Health Care of Worcester; The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Worcester; Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus; National Grid; the Worcester nonprofit Seven Hills Foundation; the Greater Worcester Community Foundation; and the United Way of Central Massachusetts.

Kimberly Salmon

The Worcester Together Coalition outlined four related principles, including a resolution to acknowledge white supremacy’s presence in municipal and regional institutions, a pledge to explicitly approach policy-making and programming as a way to dismantle racism, a promise to identify and call out policies and institutions that harm people of color, a commitment to elevate and support the voices of people of color and businesses owned by people of color.

Edward M. Augustus Jr., Worcester city manager

The Hanover Insurance Group in Worcester was among the individual companies to respond to Floyd’s murder and ensuing protests against police brutality. In a statement from President and CEO John Roche, the company called on the community to fight for equality.

Courtesy/Hanover

John Roche, Hanover CEO

“The tragedy that unfolded this past week in Minneapolis, as well as other recent disturbing incidents, require all of us to step up and work toward real equality,” Roche said. “We will continue to foster an inclusive environment that values diversity in all forms ... and, perhaps most importantly, we will continue to listen and learn.”

In a statement shared online, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce recounted the history of racism in the United States and expressed support for peaceful protests, while condemning any violence tied to the protests.

Timothy P. Murray, president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce

“As an organization that has played a prominent role in the business and community affairs of Worcester and Central Massachusetts for nearly 150 years, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce recognizes our obligation to speak out and acknowledge the discrimination that has so adversely impacted black Americans for generations,” President and CEO Timothy Murray and board Chairman Robert Cox said in a shared statement. “We strongly support the right of those who protest peacefully and applaud the many who have done so in seeking to bring about needed change. We condemn those smaller groups and individuals who have chosen a path of violence and vandalism.”

YWCA Central Massachusetts released an individual statement, where Executive Director Linda Cavaioli described Floyd’s murder as a lynching and called on the community to take action.

Linda Cavaioli, executive director of the YWCA Central Massachusetts

“We all bore witness to this heinous act of racism, but the reality is each and every day we all bear witness to the deep and systemic ways racism permeates the very core of our society,” Cavaioli wrote. “The police brutality must end. White supremacy must end. Racism must end. Silence in the face of these atrocities is complicity.”