My family and I attended the Stellar Student award ceremony in honor of my child’s accomplishments. What should have been a routine and celebratory evening was deeply overshadowed by the tone and content of remarks made by members of the town council.
Instead of focusing on the students and their achievements or on town business and activities, the open remarks included graphic descriptions of the recent murder of Charlie Kirk, demonization of political groups and sermonizing about religion and ideology. These statements were angry, divisive and completely inappropriate for a ceremony where young children were present.
In addition, my autistic son was physically touched and pressured by an audience member to force him to stand during a prayer. No child should be subject to physical coercion at a public event, nor physically forced to participate in religious rituals. I can’t help but feel that the rhetoric of the town council encourages such behavior.
