The People Have Spoken: We Are Not Afraid
Despite escalating retaliation tactics by Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino, an eclectic crowd packed the Music Hall on May 2, 2023 to send a message of their own.
Quick Facts:
The May 2, 2023 Saratoga Springs City Council meeting was shut down by Saratoga BLM and supporters chanting demands that Jim Montagnino drop charges against Chandler Hickenbottom and Lexis Figuereo for speech at previous meetings.
Although the city council supported a long overdue resolution on Restorative Justice which calls for enactment of the first of the 50-point plan items- an apology from SSPD and acknowledgment of historic and current institutionalized racism- the measure is superficial as long as BIPOC activists remain in danger of being criminalized for mundane actions in the city of Saratoga Springs.
While two Black activists are targeted for their participation in civic discourse for actions common among white people, any conversation on restorative justice is ineffective, as numerous people stated during public comment.
The meeting was packed with an overwhelming majority of people supporting Saratoga BLM, the Restorative Justice Resolution, and dismissal of the charges against BLM leaders.
Despite ominous warnings that Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino was eager to press further charges, activists would not be scared into silence.
The charges have not been dropped to date and Chandler Hickenbottom and Lexis Figuereo are due to return to court next month where their cases will involve two different prosecutors; Lorraine Diamond from Montgomery County, (Chandler) and Hamilton County DA Christopher Shambo (Lexis).
How You Can Help:
Fundraising for legal fees on Cashapp: $SaratogaBLM1312
Attend City Council Meeting 5/16/2023
Write letters and OpEds. Shy? We can help. Contact us at: theactivistsadvocate@substack.com
Show up for court to support Lexis and Chandler 6/5/2023 at 9:00 am at 474 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Deep Dive:
Despite escalating retaliation tactics by Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino, who filed additional charges in recent weeks against another Saratoga BLM leader and a woman unrelated to the group who appeared in emotional distress at a city council meeting, an eclectic crowd packed the music hall on May 2, 2023 to send a message of their own.
Mayor Kim began the meeting with an ominous warning. Having heard rumors of a planned disruption during public comment, he notified the room that any disruptions could result in consequences which, he added emphatically, he does not agree with.
A long line of community members of various ages formed to make comments largely in support of the resolution to explore restorative justice. Most also passionately demanded Montagnino drop charges against Chandler Hickenbottom and Lexis Figuereo for their speech during meetings.
The commenters- who consisted of activists, students, organizers, retired union members, veterans, and BIPOC individuals who experienced racism in Saratoga Springs firsthand, shared a common message. We will not tolerate criminalization of Black voices.
It appears Montagnino has indicated he plans to have white people arrested to “prove he’s not racist.” Despite this and the obvious risk of speaking up at City Council while BIPOC in Saratoga Springs, and despite marginalized people in particular knowing they could be next to face charges, the people were heard.
Some of those commenting seemed to have missed a few memos in the past half-century or so. Like former Safety Commissioner Mathiesen who declared without irony that he has never seen racism in Saratoga Springs.
Perhaps it is because when it presents itself to him, Racism is simply called Sunday. Or Thursday. Or Monday morning…
Similar analyses on the experience of BIPOC people as delivered by cis-white-male-baby-boomers were met with audible discontent from many in the crowd.
Any authentic conversation on racism and white supremacy that will lead to any change requires necessary ingredients of equal parts honesty, self-reflection, and discomfort for the privileged.
Discomfort, it seems, is an allergen among the white and affluent in Saratoga Springs. Montagnino avoided looking at the speakers commenting even when addressed directly and asked for acknowledgment and eye contact.
Mirroring the disconnection from reality prevalent in a statement released by the Saratoga Springs PBA the day before the meeting condemning the Restorative Justice proposal and denying any systemic racism in Saratoga Springs and the SSPD, a few stalwarts of the old guard maintained that life was easier for them, as white men of a certain age, before all these conversations about race started.
For some, willingness to be uncomfortable in order to save BIPOC people’s lives is too tall an order.
After commentary, the Mayor presented the resolution on Restorative Justice. Predictably, Commissioner Montagnino had something to say.
He began with a long-winded ramble about the history of law not recognizing collective guilt and accused the resolution of language suggesting acknowledgment of such.
After Mayor Kim challenged him by stating he was misrepresenting the resolution, Commissioner Montagnino decided he wanted to talk about race, after all. Unfortunately, his idea of “starting a conversation about race” involved perpetuation of a tabloid-worthy rumor from three years ago. Montagnino spoke about a statue in Congress Park of a Civil War Union Army general which was destroyed in 2020, culminating in the statement “I suspect people in this room… knows who did it.”
After backlash for this statement, the council voted to pass the resolution. But this act of progress, as numerous activists pointed out during comment, is meaningless while Black activists face charges for speaking in meetings. At the completion of the vote, BLM leaders and activists convened in the front of the room chanting “Restorative Justice Starts When You Drop The Charges.”
Several unfurled a banner that read “The People’s Meeting.” Music emanated from somewhere, accompanying not only chants of “Jim Crow Has Got to Go” and “Drop the Charges,” but also “Hit the Road, Jim.”
When it became clear activists were not going to disburse, Mayor Kim attempted to warn activists they would face arrest and that Jim wanted to “charge the whole room” and cops were on standby.
Despite these warnings, activists continued the chanting, proving that Jim can weaponize the police against the people, but the people are not afraid and will not be silenced.
In justice and solidarity,
The Activists Advocates