Select Board condemns intolerant language at Special Town Meeting

The Sharon Select Board issued a statement this week responding to reports of racist, discriminatory and intolerant language at the town's Oct. 22 Special Town Meeting, the Town of Sharon announced Oct. 28.

The board said debate leading up to the meeting was passionate, but that it had "heard several reports of racist, discriminatory, and intolerant language directed by Sharon residents at their neighbors, including at and after Town Meeting."

"Let me be unequivocal: we condemn racism and discrimination in the strongest possible terms," the board said in the statement. "This behavior is abhorrent and unacceptable. Strong feelings and passionate disagreement do not excuse it."

The board said every resident belongs in the community and that no one should have to defend their right to be there or question whether their family is welcome. It thanked those who shared their experiences and those who intervened when they witnessed mistreatment, saying the concerns "deserve careful listening and meaningful follow-through -- not dismissal or minimization."

The board said it is working with town staff and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee to address the reports.

Looking ahead, the board said debates should stay focused on issues rather than personal attacks. "We can disagree strongly without attacking one another's identity, character, or right to belong," the statement said. "Our responsibility is not simply to state our values, but to demonstrate them -- in our public meetings, in our everyday interactions, and in how we stand up for our neighbors."

Source: Town of Sharon Select Board announcement, October 30, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.