• Home
  • As seen on …
    • Advocacy Work
  • About the writer
  • Contact Me
  • Portfolio
  • Get Involved
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Kathryn Mayer • Writing Out Loud

I write stuff down. writer • humorist • activist

Board of ed gets heat for hateful Sandy Hook comment

December 6, 2013 by Kate Mayer 8 Comments

A newly elected board of education member posted hateful comments, promoting violence and intolerance towards the Sandy Hook shooting. This Newtown resident called him out on it.

A campaign began in our community and quickly spread nationwide: 26 Acts of Kindness, counting down the days until the somber 1 year anniversary of when our nightmare began.

It grew quickly via social media, with people sharing our message of love and kindness with those they meet.

But not everyone.

In our neighboring town of Brookfield, Connecticut, a newly elected Board of Education member, Gregory Beck, had a very different idea of kindness: here is what he posted on the Acts of Kindness Facebook page:

getting an elected official to resign

So eruptions ensued on social media, and the national media, painting the beautiful, quaint town of Brookfield with a horrific comment. I decided to not play this out on Facebook, but instead attended Greg Beck’s very first BOE meeting, to let him know exactly what this Newtown neighbor thought of his comment.

I wore my uniform: Newtown Strong t-shirt and wrist to elbow green bracelets usually reserved for traveling far from home, where it’s necessary to remind people of our pain. Usually not necessary to wear so close to town, as most of us are on the same team.

Public comments began, and despite the tears and anger of the speakers, I couldn’t help but smile at the support. One after one, parents rose up, students too, some angered to tears, and demanded Greg Beck step down. Every person was infuriated and did not hold back on their disgust and humiliation at Greg Beck’s comments, and how he does speak for, nor nor represent them.Take a listen here to some pretty pissed off Brookfield parents.

I was among friends, and took the podium and immediately thanked Brookfield for their unanimous voice of support, love and kindness. Then proceeded to ask Greg Beck to step down.

Thank you Brookfield, for a resounding act of kindness. This guy does not represent you, and this Newtown neighbor knows it.

I don’t have a clip of the evening, but here’s my own pajama-clad, mini rehearsal at home, of what I shared with our friends the next town over:

*Please commit to doing any action possible to make a positive change where you live, so our story doesn’t become your story. Join a group in your community. Send an email. Be a friend. Find a cause. Share on Facebook. Hold a sign. Make a difference.

Halloween in Newtown
What I Wish I Didn’t Know

Comments

  1. Vanita Cyril says

    December 7, 2013 at 9:26 am

    ewwwh Beck is quite douche-ish. You go mama! it’s beyond me that you guys are having to endure any type of ridicule.

    Reply
    • Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom) says

      December 9, 2013 at 6:31 pm

      Many thanks mama. Just when you think you’ve heard it all, another asshole steps up to the plate. thx for your continuous Newtown love!

      Reply
  2. LINDA DAVIES says

    December 8, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    as a brookfielder I condemn what Beck said. Brookfield stands with Newtown and the country!

    Reply
    • Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom) says

      December 9, 2013 at 6:31 pm

      We have assholes in Newtown as well, Linda. Every town does. But voters should be outraged this guy works for the town (PD) and now the schools. Ugh. It’s a voting problem, more than a greg beck problem. This jackass does not represent Brookfield, and we here know it. Can’t thank you enough for the overwhelming support at the meeting. I love Brookfield.

      Reply
  3. Andrea says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:49 am

    Oh dear…did he step down?

    Reply
    • Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom) says

      December 9, 2013 at 6:29 pm

      He did not; his only statement was he is not stepping down because he feels he is the best man for the job. I hope Brookfield voters mobilize to get rid of him; but seriously, this is a voting problem, more than a Greg Beck problem. We must be more cognizant of those running for office, and vote accordingly.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Deciding to take a stand on something that matters says:
    February 9, 2015 at 5:14 pm

    […] of ammunition for 26 friends. An angry Brookfield rose up and spoke up, each voice leading to another, and last Wednesday, Greg Beck […]

    Reply
  2. Emotional flood damage - Kathryn Mayer • Writing Out Loud says:
    February 8, 2018 at 1:36 pm

    […] work life, home life, public life, parent life, family life, political life, social life, community life? Do you keep a clear and distinct separation of church and state, put your emotions in a […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Never Miss A Post!
Enter your email address below to receive updates in your Inbox.
No Spam. Promise.
Rams hubbard
Follow @kathykatemayer Tweets by @kathykatemayer

Categories

Lucky Me!

Archives

About Kathryn Mayer

Kathryn Mayer

An irreverent storyteller with a foul mouth and big heart, Kathryn Mayer (aka Kathy and/or Kate) is a writer, humorist, and (former) activist writing out loud with humor and grace about little life moments with big ripples, including the space between parenting and aging parents, social issues, angsty reflections of midlife, and, sigh, gun humpers. Still. Sometimes a big deal, sometimes not Mayer is a national award-winning columnist, according to the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and her essays have been recognized as Voice of … Read More Here...

Never Miss A Post!
Enter your email address below to receive updates in your Inbox.
No Spam. Promise.
75 kate[at]kathrynmayer[dot]com
xo Kate
  • Home
  • As seen on …
  • About the writer
  • Contact Me
  • Portfolio
  • Get Involved

Copyright © 2022 Kathryn Mayer Designed By: J9 Designs