Items
topic_interest is exactly
#Wethersfield
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2020-12-02
“Back the Blue” sign
I decided to include this into the collection because I believe that it would be unethical to exclude the “opposing side”. The “Back the Blue” movement is a sort of counter-movement created against the calls to “defund the police”. ‘Back the Blue’ is also often referred to as ‘Blue Lives Matter’ or ‘Thin Blue Line’. I felt that this was necessary to include opposing viewpoints, as not to completely dismiss them from existing, which would be unethical, and future historians who look back onto 2020 will also find out about this counter movement and the reason why it was formed, which allows them to fully grasp the environment of our times. -
2020-06-02
“Justice for George Floyd” sign in front of Historical Building
This is a sign that was put at the door of a historical building in Old Wethersfield, shortly following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The killing of George Flyod, more specifically, the recording, are what caused the widespread Black Lives Matter protests over the summer. To me, this image is important for the archive because it shows the significance of this event in 2020, because it shook the world, not even just the US, and that support for the movement and support for justice is being called for from ~1.3k miles away. The video was spread over social media, which allowed for it to reach that level of audience that it was exposed to. -
2020-07-03
Tweet from Amy Morrin Bello - State Representative in the 28th District.
This tweet is referring to an incident that occurred when the Wethersfield Historical Society put out a Facebook message about how a Black Lives Matter poster was taken down from their building by a town employee, and how they are an apolitical institution. They mentioned they kept the poster for their own archives, however the backlash came at their wording about being ‘political’ and how Black Lives Matter isn’t a political movement, it is a human rights issue. This item is really interesting, as the historical society is preserving the poster to fill archival silences, and keep a record of current events, however, they are faced with backlash from people who believe that they are not being ethical due to them trying to hide the exposing of human rights violations, which is one of the roles in being an ethical archivist. -
2020-07-16
Grievances From the Members of Our Community
This item/document is an example of how my generation is attempting to make change in society. This document is a collection of grievances and injustices that people faced throughout their years in the Wethersfield school district. This document was submitted to the superintendent of schools and Wethersfield High School administration. I think this item exemplifies multiple criteria because it gives a voice to marginalized groups and their mistreatment in the school system, it was a project undertaken by young student activists, and it could lead to possible changes in the future.