Harry Spence has retired and his tenure as the Court Administrator ended last Friday but his legacy of upholding institutional racism lives on. Here are some examples of what we mean:
Complete disregard for racist behavior and the concerns of people of color
Spence helped write many of the questions being asked by the "independent" investigator he chose after suspending Félix without any due process. Not one of the questions Spence asked the investigator to pose was about race, racism or sabotage, despite the fact that Harry's own internal investigation revealed numerous incidents of racist behavior.
Downplaying the IMPACT of racism on people of color
"She is a union employee and had allegedly made a crude comment to a colleague. Under collective bargaining this does not rise to the standards for termination."
This was Spence's response (
Boston Globe, 4/12) when he was asked to comment on Leslie Girardi, who was placed in F
élix's office by the Trial Court, calling an African-American colleague the n-word. According to Spence, this is merely a "crude comment." The
Globe reports that Girardi was not terminated for this repulsive act, but simply transferred by Deputy Court Administrator Linda Medonis, all under Spence's watch.
Fully supporting those that protect racists
"We continue to support Linda in her role as Deputy Court Administrator."
Spence gave this full endorsement of Medonis,
(
Boston Globe
, 4/12) AFTER the
Globe confirmed that Medonis transferred Girardi from Registry to Registry in spite of a troubled work history and the Trial Court's own internal investigation confirming that Girardi called an African-American colleague the n-word. F
élix continues to call for Medonis' and Girardi's resignations.
Blaming people of color for racist actions and his own lack of action
"If racist or inappropriate comments were made while the register was responsible for management of the office, it was his obligation to address those issues. He did not do so."
Spence (
Boston Globe, 4/12) is desperately trying to blame F
élix for his and Medonis' lack of action in disciplining Girardi. What Spence doesn't say is that the investigative report that concluded Girardi referred to an African-American colleague with the n-word was completed on November 15, 2016 and withheld from F
élix until January 20, 2017. Girardi was transferred by Medonis in December to a different Registry where F
élix no longer had the authority to discipline her. Meanwhile, Medonis and Spence had the damning report when Girardi was transferred by Medonis.
Disparaging and minimizing the skills and experience of a person of color
Harry Spence wrote in his letter to Felix on January 27, 2017: [Letter posted at
standwithfelix.com]
"You completely lack the knowledge, skills and professional commitment required to manage the Registry"
F
élix has over 40 years of experience as an educator, executive, and elected official, including having served as the Director of personnel for the City of Boston, Director of the Department of Transitional Assistance - Dudley Office under Gov. Patrick and as the Executive Director of various community-based organizations.
While Harry Spence no longer works at the Trial Court, Linda Medonis and Leslie Girardi are still employed by the Trial Court in jobs funded by our tax dollars. Please join Félix in demanding that they resign or be terminated immediately.
Please join our campaign to hold the Trial Court accountable - DONATE HERE!
Sincerely,
Patrick Keaney
Campaign Manager
#StandWithFelix
