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| Mark Meenan, Smithfield Resident |
The best way to get rid of prejudice is to let it whither up and die. I would suggest that we do that with this issue. It's an interesting story, it sold a few newspapers, but let it go, let it die.
So said Smithfield resident Donald Burns at the September 4th Smithfield Town Council meeting, the last comments of the evening on the controversy surrounding Domin Avenue, named after John Algernon Domin, a deceased "Grand Cyclops" of a Rhode Island branch of the racist terrorist organization the Ku Klux Klan.
Smithfield Town Council vice president Richard Poirier recalled Burns' words at the September 18th meeting where it was decided by the town and by the residents of Domin Avenue to do exactly what Burns suggested, and forget about it. Looking somber and perhaps a little conflicted, Poirier said,
Smithfield Town Council vice president Richard Poirier recalled Burns' words at the September 18th meeting where it was decided by the town and by the residents of Domin Avenue to do exactly what Burns suggested, and forget about it. Looking somber and perhaps a little conflicted, Poirier said,
I think probably Mr. Burns had it right when he said that this issue was asleep for a very long time and why it was reawakened at this time I don't know but I agree that it should go back to sleep.
It was Poirier who noted at the September 4th meeting that "the Ku Klux Klan would have opposed my family coming to this town because my family was Catholic." I would like to think that Poirier understands at least a little about how a history of hate and intolerance can warp the moral compass of a town for generations.
In the end, the Domin Avenue issue was not so much decided as it was ignored. The name of the street had not been an issue for over forty years, and so it was decided that the issue could be ignored for at least another forty. Dennis Finlay, the Town Manager pointed out, "According to town ordinance 312-30c, a request has to come in to me [the town manager] for a name change and at that point in time I would review the potential for a street name change. I did have a submission that was withdrawn, it was respectfully withdrawn, and at this point in time I do not have anything to bring forth to the council."
I have no details on who originally made and then subsequently withdraw the name change request. After the Town Manager made his announcement, Richard Poirier read a statement from a petition, signed by fifteen of the residents of Domin Ave.
Citing the hardships and extreme inconvenience that would be suffered by the residents subjected to the name change (seeing that many on the street are elderly and others just moved onto the street and would have to go through the process again) the petition suggested that Roger Schenck, the former Smithfield resident who originally pointed out the history of the street name, should come to Smithfield and teach a class on the history of the KKK to the Smithfield Middle School. Given that Schenck is in his 70's, resides in Honolulu, and only occasionally visits Smithfield, I wonder at the feasibility of this idea.
With the issue now essentially decided, Domin Avenue will officially stay Domin Avenue, in memory of a hate filled bigot who lead rallies against vulnerable minorities and burned crosses in celebration of white, protestant superiority. A few residents got up to speak in support of this non decision, bringing up the same old arguments in favor of doing nothing.
Was there no one in Smithfield who would speak out in favor of the hard choice? Was there no one in Smithfield with moral character willing to take a stand against leaving a street dedicated to hate, terrorism and bigotry?
Fortunately, Smithfield resident Mark Meenan stepped up to speak. He lives one street over from Domin, on Potter Avenue.
In the end, the Domin Avenue issue was not so much decided as it was ignored. The name of the street had not been an issue for over forty years, and so it was decided that the issue could be ignored for at least another forty. Dennis Finlay, the Town Manager pointed out, "According to town ordinance 312-30c, a request has to come in to me [the town manager] for a name change and at that point in time I would review the potential for a street name change. I did have a submission that was withdrawn, it was respectfully withdrawn, and at this point in time I do not have anything to bring forth to the council."
I have no details on who originally made and then subsequently withdraw the name change request. After the Town Manager made his announcement, Richard Poirier read a statement from a petition, signed by fifteen of the residents of Domin Ave.
Citing the hardships and extreme inconvenience that would be suffered by the residents subjected to the name change (seeing that many on the street are elderly and others just moved onto the street and would have to go through the process again) the petition suggested that Roger Schenck, the former Smithfield resident who originally pointed out the history of the street name, should come to Smithfield and teach a class on the history of the KKK to the Smithfield Middle School. Given that Schenck is in his 70's, resides in Honolulu, and only occasionally visits Smithfield, I wonder at the feasibility of this idea.
With the issue now essentially decided, Domin Avenue will officially stay Domin Avenue, in memory of a hate filled bigot who lead rallies against vulnerable minorities and burned crosses in celebration of white, protestant superiority. A few residents got up to speak in support of this non decision, bringing up the same old arguments in favor of doing nothing.
Was there no one in Smithfield who would speak out in favor of the hard choice? Was there no one in Smithfield with moral character willing to take a stand against leaving a street dedicated to hate, terrorism and bigotry?
Fortunately, Smithfield resident Mark Meenan stepped up to speak. He lives one street over from Domin, on Potter Avenue.
I have an interracial grandchild. I'm offended that that sign is going to remain there. I'm also shocked that you would consider putting a monument there, when you're going to leave this man's name also as a monument. It kind of contradicts. I also served in the service. We didn't fight to have this happen. You're trying to compare judging yesterday's people today, differently? Well, I thought we were beyond yesterday, and the town is saying that they're going to stay in yesterday by doing nothing? That makes no sense to me. It's like you're still holding on to the past, and what that stood for. That's all I have to say.
I watched some of the residents of Domin Ave as Mr. Meenan spoke. They looked shocked and offended at his words. Not one of them, it seemed, could understand how anyone could perceive this as being about the continuation of the racist Klan history into our present. To them it was all about convenience, and the trouble a street name change might cause them. Never having been victims of the kind of terrorism and bigotry the Klan represented, the residents of modern day Domin Ave only want the issue to go away.
And now it has.
And now it has.
I stay away from places like Smithfield. There are deer ticks there.
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