The Bristol Phoenix opinion page states that it publishes letters subject to “guidelines for taste, accuracy, fairness and public interest.” But in recent weeks it has published a letter spouting biased and unfair claims comparing Nazi stickers to peaceful protests by East Bay for Diversity and Black Lives Matter, as well as wholly inaccurate and tasteless pieces on topics ranging from critical race theory to comparisons between the Jewish community and cultish devotees of the last president.

Publishing ‘opinion’ letters that propagate lies and hate is not supporting freedom of speech, it's supporting a culture of misinformation. 

This is both immoral and dangerous. In March an editorial pondered, “Who are we? Who do we want to be?” in discussing Bristol’s falling population. Yet the editorial staff remain silent on critical issues that risk defining our town’s identity and fail to use their position of power and editorial platform to denounce recent symbols, words and acts of hate.

I hope with all my heart the Phoenix’s silence is based on a misplaced desire to remain neutral rather than some sort of agreement with the false claims and unfair assaults shared by some of their readers. More still, I hope the Phoenix will use its important position in the community to build “who we want to be” as a fair, inclusive and just community. Until then my subscription has been cancelled.

Margaret Richards
Bristol