I cannot be silent after hearing of an online chat group at our Edmonds-Woodway High School discussing “lynching” a fellow student because he is black. (Tuesday article, “Edmonds teens arrested after violent, racial Facebook threats.”) We are told that this online chat group has been active since August. Yes, the offending students have been expelled, and yes they are being criminally charged.
Some have chalked this up to being an “isolated incident” or teenagers being “stupid.” However, if you begin to consider the totality of the circumstances, such as another incident last year of a black family threatened with death at our waterfront because of their skin color, a citizen writing about a car driving through town proudly displaying the Confederate flag, and teenagers now writing of wanting to kill someone because of their skin color, these isolated incidents, taken together, are sending a message.
We, as a community, need to speak out against these acts.
Hatred of another race is not something we are born with. It is a learned behavior.
Watching my youngest child play with other children, it is very clear he doesn’t notice their skin color or their ethnic background. He sees a fellow kid who just wants to play.
Sadly, somewhere along the way some of our children are growing up with hatred and we are failing to teach them that we are all in this together.
The lowest points in our nation’s history have been when we as a nation have blamed, feared, persecuted and killed our fellow citizens because of their skin color.
It has been over 50 years since one father made that famous request that his “four children live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” It is long past due for his request to be honored.
We must tell our children, our family, friends and neighbors that we as a community do not tolerate this hatred.
We must tell those outside of Edmonds that we are a welcoming and caring community.
We welcome people of all races, religions, and diverse backgrounds.
We will not judge you.
We will stand with you.
We will love you.
Mike Nelson
Edmonds City Council member and proud father
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