Protest follows pride flag controversy

BY LEIGH BLANDER

More than 150 people stood in the rain for a peaceful protest across from Grace Community Church on Sunday morning, waving pride flags and handmade signs, singing gospel songs and calling for more tolerance in Marblehead.

“As a gay woman, when discrimination raises its head in a small town, people aren’t going to put up with it,” said Judy Geneen of Marblehead. “I live in Florida part of the year, and I thought I was coming home to a safe space here in Marblehead. For a church that preaches the bible, they need to go back and read it.”

The protest was in response to two members of Grace Community Church removing

WORLD WITH J uSTICe pride flags placed in flower boxes outside the building by Mike Richmond, who is gay and rents space in the church to run the Pleasant Street Preschool with his partner. Richmond approached the two church members asking why they were removing the flags. He recorded the interaction on his phone.

“Why are you taking down the pride flags?” Richmond asked the

Music, poetry, passion at Juneteenth celebration

couple.

“Because it’s a church that doesn’t celebrate… you can have your time… but we don’t want to celebrate if we don’t have to,” answered the woman. “We are a church that believes in the bible.” Richmond then asked, “What’s the message that you’re sending to the children?”

The woman responded, “You can celebrate who you are, but we don’t have to.” Richmond said he never discussed gay pride with his young students.

“I see the pride flag as a symbol for peace, love and acceptance for all,” he said.

When contacted for comment, Grace Community Church

Gilliland blazes new trail

Fire chief becomes first in town to receive bachelor’s of fire science degree

BY CHRIS STEVENS

When Salem State University seniors crossed the stage to collect their diplomas on May 20, there was a very familiar face in the crowd. Fire Chief Jason Gilliland accomplished something no other Marblehead fire chief has done when he earned a bachelor’s of fire science and administration that day. And it only took him 30-plus years to do it.

“It was good to finally accomplish this,” Gilliland said. “I hate leaving things undone.” Gilliland started on the path to a bachelor’s degree in the late 1980s, taking night and summer classes while working as a firefighter. Then, as typically happens, life got in the way.

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Marblehead High School students of color shared their visions of a “world with justice” at the town’s third annual Juneteenth celebration and flag raising on June 14. More than 100 people gathered on the Abbot Hall lawn for the event.

“A world with justice looks like being able to check social media

BY ED BELL

without seeing another article about a victim of police brutality,” said Kendal-Arielle Verdine-Ngole. “A world with justice sounds like no more mothers mourning for their Black sons. A world with justice is being able to walk down the street without being approached by a police officer who assumes you are up to no good.”

Student Bernardo Bannis added,

“A world with justice is when we get pulled over by the police and we do not have to record for our own safety, from the people who are meant to protect us.”

Shakayla Baxter said, “A world with justice gives everyone access to the services they deserve no matter what they look like or what their bank