Police, Community Members, and Leaders in West Chester Pledge to ‘Stand Together’ Against Discrimination

West Chester is making a bold statement in the face of hate speech and discrimination: Community members are signing a pledge to address incidents in unison.

“West Chester’s strength lies in our diversity.” Mayor Carolyn Comitta said in a Daily Local News report by Pete Bannan. “We are proud to be an inclusive, welcoming community and will always pledge to stand together and take action to make sure every one of our neighbors feels safe and welcome here.”

The Greater West Chester Code of Community Values Resolution and Pledge was introduced during Sunday’s Charles A. Melton Arts & Education Center Community Unity Day after six months of discussions with “the West Chester Area School District, West Chester University, Police Chief Scott Bohm, state NAACP official Dr. Joyce Flynn, members of the LGBT community, and area Islamic and church organizations.”

Specifically, the pledge states, “As people of goodwill, we will not tolerate hateful speech or actions toward any individual or group in our community.”

Plans are in the works to make the pledge available for signing online as well as at various community organizations’ events.

“It’s all about civility, leading by example and treating people as you would want to be treated. If signing a pledge makes it more real, why not?” state Rep. Dan Truitt said in the article.

Read more about the Greater West Chester Code of Community Values Resolution and Pledge in the Daily Local News here.