People turn out for and against homeless families

By Beth David, Editor

After Fairhaven town officials announced that 15 rooms at the Seaport Inn had been reserved by the state for “unsheltered families,” a group of people mobilized to protest their arrival in Fairhaven. Immediately after, a “welcoming” group organized to rally in favor of the families.

The state has been receiving immigrant families from southern states and has been scrambling for ways to house them, mostly paying for hotel rooms in municipalities around Massa­chu­setts. The solution has sparked controversy in some communities.

The room rentals started on Saturday, 10/7/23, so both groups gathered on the corner of Route 6 and Middle Street that morning. Inside, town Administrator Angie Lopes Ellison; Pam Kuechler, Executive Director of PACE (People Acting In Community Endeavors); two Mass. National Guard members, and a couple of other volunteers, sorted through dona­tions such as clothes and toiletries that were meant for the families.

However, only one family of four arrived the night before. Town officials, including the schools, expect the other families to arrive in the coming days. 

It is unclear if the families will be from foreign countries, or homeless Americans, but it is most likely they will be migrants seeking some form of asylum in the U.S.

As such, they have entered from border states and have been processed through the immigration system. Because of that they are legally residing in this country, and their children have a right to be educated in the public school system.

On the southeast side of Route 6 and Middle Street, a group of about 25 anti-migrant protesters stood, holler­ing and calling out statements, mostly along the lines of the families being illegal and not belonging in Fairhaven, some­thing about homeless veterans, and the word “invasion” thrown around liberally.

Across the street, a group of about the same size held “welcome” signs and banners, with some exchanges between individuals of both groups across the intersection.

As this reporter tried to interview a woman on the anti-migrant side, a man constantly interrupted and told the woman not to talk to the Neighb News, calling this reporter/editor biased, “fake news,” and accusing this reporter of removing his posts on Facebook and spreading lies about the protest, including the false claim that the protest had been canceled, all untrue accusations. 

The posts were made on pages that the Neighb News has no control over.

When this reporter realized it was Andrew Carvalho who was interfering and making the false accusations, she responded with a curse and the two exchanged heated words. Mr. Carval­ho accused the paper of only publish­ing one side, while the paper noted that Mr. Carvalho was not allowing anyone on his side to speak with the paper.

Mr. Carvalho and several other protesters surrounded this reporter in a physically threatening and intimidat­ing manner.

This reporter spotted former Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson standing a few feet back, not with the threatening group, and approached him, pushing past Mr. Carvalho and his cronies. Mr. Hodgson spoke with the Neighb News. Mr. Carvalho did not try to control who Mr. Hodgson could speak with.

A man recorded the interview with Mr. Hodgson saying that he did not trust the Neighb News to get it right. He would not identify himself.

Mr. Hodgson said the problem is with the governor and the administra­tion of President Joseph Biden. Mr. Hodgson said when he worked with government agencies in border states, that Maura Healey, who is now governor, was all for open borders.

Now, said Mr. Hodgson, she is trying to curtail it, because it is directly affecting Massachusetts.

He said there is a right way and a wrong way to enter the country, and housing the migrants in hotels sends the message that the law does not matter.

“I don’t see it as a liberal or con­serva­tive issue,” said Mr. Hodgson. “I see it as an America issue.”

Michael Yates of Dartmouth said he was there because he is a Christian. 

“And that’s the Antichrist over there,” he said pointing across the street to those holding the “Welcome” signs. 

Mr. Yates said the country was founded on Judeo-Christian values. He said there was “nothing wrong” with immigrants, but they should come here legally. 

Mr. Yates said the “left” is bringing in illegal immigrants, and stealing money from taxpayers to support them to create a voter base for Democrats.

A woman who would not identify herself and was holding a sign that read “Stop the illegal invasion,” said she knew who the Neighb News reporter was, that she was “biased,” “fake news” and had no brains. 

The unidenti­fied woman at first covered her face with her sign, gave the reporter the middle finger, then swung the sign back saying, “I’m going to hit you with this sign you f—–g bitch.”

Across the street, people held a long ban­ner with the word “welcome” in  different languages. Other signs said “Fairhaven welcomes all families,” and “We love and support everyone.”

Kari Tyler said she was there to show a “welcoming presence” for the families. 

Samantha Testa, who attends public school in Fairhaven, said she wanted to show support for the incoming families.

“They need the support right now,” said Ms. Testa, adding that she will donate items to the families, too. 

Her sister, Juliana, was also on the welcoming side.

Their parents were with them and said they had “open arms for everyone.”

One supporter said she loved that people showed up to show support for the families.

“It gives me hope,” she said. “There are amazing people here.”

One of the complaints the protesters had is that the schools will be overrun with foreign students, straining resources, and that the students have not been properly vetted.

Fairhaven Schools Superintendent Tara Quirk Kohler said all students will go through the same intake process as any other new student, including academic assessment, language skills assessment, and any health con­sidera­tions. 

She would not specifically talk about inoculations, citing medical privacy considera­tions, HIPAA, and also saying it will depend on the individual. 

A quick search of Mass. General Laws reveals that students are supposed to be inoculated, including those from other countries, however, they have the right to certain exemptions.

“We have worked hard as a school department to build a team of pro­fessionals who register kids and make sure they have what they need to be in school,” said Ms. Kohler. “And once that’s established they will enter school and they will be educated just like anyone else.”

Ms. Kohler noted that the schools always have some homeless students and foreign students.

“It’s not new for us to get kids who don’t speak English. It’s not new for us to get kids who are homeless,” said Ms. Kohler. “We deal with those things all the time. I have full confidence in our staff to handle the situations as they come.”

She said it was the volume that might be a challenge, but the state is helping with funds for any additional resources the district may need. 

Ms. Kohler would not say how many students had already been admitted, citing safety concerns.

She took exception to the accusation that Fairhaven students would suffer because of the new students.

“Don’t tell me I’m going to treat our kids differently,” said Ms. Kohler. “They just became our kids.”

Anyone who wants to donate items to help the families may drop off donations at the Fairhaven Fire Department between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. any day of the week. Items needed include toiletries, baby items, paper products (plates, napkins, plastic utensils), feminine products. 

•••

Click here to download the 10/12/23 issue: 10-12-23 ManjiroFest

Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal