Real Solutions and Main South community workers held a May 5th press conference recognizing the Worcester Police Department's on-going investigative work in the Main South murders and calling on Worcester leaders to take this opportunity to end the continuing climate of prejudice and fear mongering.
With recently announced progress in solving the murders of Betzaida Montalvo, Carmen Rudy, Dinelia Torres, Wendy Morello and Lineida Olivera organizers called for changing the attitudes that persist in our community against those who have addictions to drugs or alcohol, experience homelessness, or who are engaged in sex work.
"As we work to change these prejudices, we challenge ourselves and all community members to look at how we contribute to this climate through our words and actions."
We call this press conference firstly to condemn the crimes committed against all of the murder victims of the “Main South Woodsman”: Betzaida Montalvo, Carmen Rudy, Dinelia Torres, Wendy Morello and Lineida Olivera.Betzaida Montalvo, Carmen Rudy, Dinelia Torres, Wendy Morello and Lineida Olivera. As community leaders we commend the Worcester Police Department for their investigative work on these cases and for the progress that has been made thus far.
At the same time, we wish as much progress had been made on reversing the attitudes of hatred and fear that still persist city-wide, directed against people who engage in sex work, who use drugs, or who experience homelessness.
It may be tempting to simply condemn the actions of the killer and stop there. But we recognize that this still isn’t enough. We challenge ourselves and all residents and policy makers to examine our attitudes, and ask ourselves how these attitudes shaped a hateful climate in which five women were killed.
When we judge others and regard them with hate, we end up attacking them, rather than our real problem: poverty in Worcester. When such hateful attitudes get so widespread and loud that they become regarded as public opinion, we create a climate in which some people are regarded not as equal human beings, but as worthless problems.
But we’re here today to reject such prejudice. We’d rather have a climate of working together to address issues like poverty, housing and health care. We’re not interested in prejudice and scapegoating, not only because they’re wrong, but because they haven’t solved the problems in our communities.
And we don’t think we’re alone. Although we often hear exclusively from those who would condemn and criminalize people struggling with addiction and other serious issues, we believe there are many people in Worcester who prefer to approach these issues with rationality and compassion.
We challenge those people to raise their voices with ours. Enough of the prejudice and scapegoating, and yes to creative, real solutions to alleviate poverty in Worcester.
