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To the Editor,

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, I have been reflecting on what people often call the “American experiment” – the idea that a diverse democracy can sustain liberty, equality, and self-government through debate, dissent, civic participation, and the rule of law rather than fear, force, or inherited power.

It has been a difficult and emotionally charged year. Over the past several weeks especially, I have been hearing from residents who are worried, hurt, angry, and scared. Many people feel unsettled by the increasingly hostile tone surrounding events globally, nationally, and locally, and by the way those tensions are beginning to affect communities closer to home.

At this milestone moment in our country’s history, it is worth reflecting on what those foundational democratic principles actually require of us. Democracy does not mean we will always agree. In fact, it depends on the ability of people to speak out when they believe governments or institutions are acting in ways that are harmful, unjust, or contrary to their values. The right to protest peacefully, to dissent, to gather publicly, and to express unpopular views is foundational to this country and to any free society.

At the same time, there is an important difference between expressing disagreement with policies or governments and targeting people because of who they are, their nationality, religion, ethnicity, or identity.

That distinction matters.

That is why I was deeply troubled by the cancellation of the Israeli Chamber Project performance that had been scheduled to take place here in West Hartford through the Hartford Musical Club. Art, music, literature, and cultural exchange help people see one another’s humanity. Silencing artists or excluding cultural voices because of nationality, ethnicity, or religion is a dangerous path for any community.

Bullying institutions into cancelling artistic performances because of the identity or background of the performers is itself contrary to the principles of free expression and cultural exchange that democratic societies depend upon.

The town stood ready to take whatever measures were necessary to help ensure the private performance could proceed safely and securely, but ultimately intimidation and fear succeeded in preventing it from taking place.

Mark Twain famously wrote that “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” Exposure to different people, cultures, perspectives, and experiences is part of what strengthens democratic societies. Art and cultural exchange are not threats to civic life – they are part of what makes civic life possible.

We also know the history of what begins with words – hatred, dehumanization, and the targeting of people because of who they are or what they believe.

Antisemitism is real and rising, and many members of the Jewish community are feeling vulnerable and afraid. Violent attacks targeting Jewish individuals and institutions – from the Tree of Life synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh, to the deadly attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, to the arson attack on the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence during Passover – have deepened that fear for many Jewish Americans and Jewish communities around the world.

We are also witnessing horrific acts of violence and hatred directed at Muslim communities, including the recent tragic attack at the Islamic Center in San Diego. Hate and extremism in any form must be clearly and unequivocally denounced.

Here in West Hartford, our responsibility is not to inflame tensions further, nor is it to decide which lawful viewpoints are permitted. Our responsibility is to protect public safety, uphold constitutional rights, and ensure that every member of our community feels safe, respected, and valued.

That includes protecting the rights of individuals and groups to gather and protest peacefully in public spaces, even when others strongly disagree with the message being expressed.

Last weekend’s Nakba commemoration protest at Town Hall generated strong emotions and concern within parts of our community, particularly among many Jewish residents. The ability of people to express views that others may find painful, offensive, or deeply disagreeable – so long as they remain lawful and nonviolent – is part of the essence of a constitutional democracy.

Public officials do not determine which lawful viewpoints may be expressed in public forums based on whether they are popular, comfortable, or emotionally easy to hear. Our role is to ensure that events remain lawful and safe, while protecting the constitutional rights of all involved.

At the same time, protecting lawful public protest is not the same as condoning intimidation, harassment, or efforts to silence or exclude individuals, artists, or institutions because of their identity, nationality, religion, or background. Constitutional rights and public safety must apply equally and consistently to everyone.

I also want to express my deep gratitude to our Town Manager, Police Department, Fire Department, schools, houses of worship, community organizations, and many community partners who work every single day – often quietly and behind the scenes – to keep public safety as our highest priority and to support every member of our community during difficult moments. Their work is to help ensure the safety of everyone involved – protestors, attendees, counter-protestors, congregants, residents, and visitors alike – while protecting the rights and freedoms that are fundamental to our democracy.

America has never been perfect. But the principles embedded in our founding documents – liberty, equality, freedom of conscience, the rule of law, and the right of individuals to participate openly in civic life – remain extraordinary and worth defending.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, it is important to recognize that democracy is not self-sustaining. Its endurance depends on our willingness to uphold these principles even when doing so is uncomfortable, emotionally difficult, or tested by fear and disagreement.

Here in West Hartford, we will not always agree. But we can choose to reject hatred and dehumanization in all forms. We can choose to protect both public safety and constitutional rights. And we can choose to remain a community where people of different backgrounds, faiths, and perspectives are able to live together with dignity, humanity, and mutual respect.

At this moment in our nation’s history, that commitment matters more than ever. We must continue to engage with one another in good faith, defend democratic institutions, and ensure that future generations inherit a society grounded not in division and fear, but in liberty, justice, and shared responsibility.

That is the ongoing work of democracy – and it is work worthy of our courage, our vigilance, and our enduring belief that a free and pluralistic society is always worth defending.