At the Belmont Farmers Market on Aug. 27, I overheard a man shout at another person to “go back to your country!” I didn’t witness what led up to it, and I can’t pretend to know the full story. But I know this: that phrase has no place in Belmont, no matter what preceded it.
I didn’t speak up in the moment. I hadn’t seen enough to know what was happening, and I was shocked. But the moment has stayed with me, and I think it’s worth stating publicly: this isn’t who we are, and it isn’t who we want to be.
I hope more of us — vendors, market organizers, neighbors, strangers — feel empowered to speak up when we hear xenophobia in Belmont.
Meryl Junik, Royal Road
