August 2017
I have been President of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers (MAMLEO) for almost 10 years and a member for 30 years. Over the years I have seen a number of organizations arise that cater to the different minority communities, be they Cape Verdean, Hispanic or Asian. Each organization has looked out for their respective communities, hoping to gain advantage for their membership. Other organizations have formed around specific issues such as violence, lack of economic opportunities, lack of diversity, gentrification, among others. Religious leaders with their own agenda are also in the mix. Because the community of color has always been fractionalized and marginalized, City Hall has always been able to play one group against another. The result is that although Boston is a majority-minority City, the minority community has little political clout. If we are to obtain equality of treatment for all our people, we must organize to activate our people, register them to vote and make their voices heard at the ballot box. For almost 50 years, MAMLEO has made our facilities available to be meeting place for the exchange of ideas for the benefit of all minority community. We must continue to fight.
In 1975, the Massachusetts Association of Afro-American Police (MAMLEO), The Vulcans, and the Urban League, brought suit to force several communities to hire Black and Hispanic police and firefighters. The result, in the matter of Castro v Beecher, a consent decree was entered that required the hiring of many police officers and firefighters of color.
City Hall regards every minority, whether Black, Haitian, Asian, Ethiopian, Christian or Muslim regardless of your religious or national heritage as a minority. The greatest fear of the White power structure is that the community actually gets together and votes together. Until that time, our struggle to obtain equality of opportunity and diversity in the police and fire department, the schools and City government will continue to be an uphill battle.
I have been President of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers (MAMLEO) for almost 10 years and a member for 30 years. Over the years I have seen a number of organizations arise that cater to the different minority communities, be they Cape Verdean, Hispanic or Asian. Each organization has looked out for their respective communities, hoping to gain advantage for their membership. Other organizations have formed around specific issues such as violence, lack of economic opportunities, lack of diversity, gentrification, among others. Religious leaders with their own agenda are also in the mix. Because the community of color has always been fractionalized and marginalized, City Hall has always been able to play one group against another. The result is that although Boston is a majority-minority City, the minority community has little political clout. If we are to obtain equality of treatment for all our people, we must organize to activate our people, register them to vote and make their voices heard at the ballot box. For almost 50 years, MAMLEO has made our facilities available to be meeting place for the exchange of ideas for the benefit of all minority community. We must continue to fight.
In 1975, the Massachusetts Association of Afro-American Police (MAMLEO), The Vulcans, and the Urban League, brought suit to force several communities to hire Black and Hispanic police and firefighters. The result, in the matter of Castro v Beecher, a consent decree was entered that required the hiring of many police officers and firefighters of color.
City Hall regards every minority, whether Black, Haitian, Asian, Ethiopian, Christian or Muslim regardless of your religious or national heritage as a minority. The greatest fear of the White power structure is that the community actually gets together and votes together. Until that time, our struggle to obtain equality of opportunity and diversity in the police and fire department, the schools and City government will continue to be an uphill battle.
