Radio Roundtable Confronts Racism in Worcester and Examines Massachusetts Primary Results

Roundtable Examines Racist Mural Incident

By-Hank Stolz
Graphic-Radio Worcester/ Photos: Kill the Ball Media

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Worcester, MA-The Radio Roundtable examines two important stories involving Worcester and Massachusetts: the racist verbal harassment directed at two Black artists working on the Wall of Women mural and a state primary election in which incumbents across the ideological spectrum successfully defended their seats. George Russell, Randy Feldman and Ben White discuss racism that often goes undocumented, Worcester’s efforts to address systemic inequity and the organizational advantages enjoyed by established candidates.

A man filled with rage screamed racial epithets at two Black artists working on the Wall of Women mural. The two women were able to capture part of the incident on video. George Russell, Randy Feldman and Ben White discuss racism that often goes undocumented and Worcester’s efforts to address systemic inequity. George Russell said,  “You wonder how many times things like this happen that are not documented, that are not recorded, that are not put out there in the public.” Randy Feldman recounted an incident that happened in Worcester to him and his fiancé,  “I used to be of the opinion that in the northeast part of the country, among educated people, racism had so seriously declined. It wasn’t such a big issue anymore. That was my opinion until I got together with somebody who was black.” Russell said former City Manager tried to address it through policy, “(former Worcester City Manager) Ed Augustus went as far as when he was city manager, went as far as coming out with the resolutions and policies based on systemic racism…he came out with that whole policy and the whole city government basically changed their way of operating.”

The panel also debated the meaning of the outcome of the MA Primary which incumbents across the state won. In Worcester, two State Representatives, generally identified with the progressive wing of the party, won where the most recent City Council race had seen more moderate or conservative candidates win. Russell said it came down to organization, “I don’t know if there was a message for the electorate on progressive or conservative…who’s got the ground game? And obviously who had the ground game were the two incumbents by far.”  Ben White noted you had progressive and more centrist incumbents win, “If you look at all of Massachusetts, it wasn’t progressives. It was incumbents. Look at Richie Neal…Stephen Lynch…you had some of these more kind of moderate guys who have been in for a wicked long time fending off progressive, younger progressive challengers.”