She calls to denounce hate, white supremacy
“Those are the two specific asks in the statement because those are the two things in particular that came from a groundswell, and that included Indiana, and rose to an attack on our Capitol,” Johnson said in a phone interview, referring to the Jan. 6 insurrection in which five people, including a police officer, died.
So far, almost 170 people have signed online in support of her statement, which is on the HRC Facebook page as well as her own.
Former Mayor Jon Costas appointed Johnson to a three-year term on the council. Her term expired at the end of 2020 and Johnson said she didn’t ask to be reappointed by Mayor Matt Murphy, and he didn’t ask her to reapply.
“Words matter. Words have consequences. Our citizens are listening. Our children are listening,” Johnson said in her statement, noting that Valparaiso High School students have been listening to former President Donald Trump’s words “and have quoted him directly to harass and bully fellow students who are different, whether it be by race, religion, sexual orientation and other countless identities.”
Local leaders, Johnson said by phone, have a responsibility not to ignore what led to the insurrection but to address it.
“Mayor Matt Murphy and the City of Valparaiso have been consistent in supporting inclusion and in condemning all acts of violence, discrimination or hate, reinforcing that message in August with a statement supported by the Human Relations Council,” city officials said in a statement.
“Rather than taking names or keeping score, the City is interested in moving forward collectively and will continue to listen to and support our community universally. We represent the entire community and believe that the best way forward is united.”
Murphy’s statement over the summer, put together with input from the HRC, members of the City Council and the community, supported public and peaceful assembly as well as condemning “any act that is racist, hateful, violent, or discriminatory against any person, or group of people.”
Johnson said her statement at the end of her last meeting garnered a comment that it sparked a family conversation about the issues at hand.
“I hope that all in the community will sit down with their families and their neighbors to discuss the statement,” she said. “This is how we deal with these important national issues and address them here in Valparaiso.”
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