About John

Yesterday, the legislature passed S.2963, An Act relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth. This bill, which addresses issues of racial justice and police reform in Massachusetts, has been negotiated in Conference Committee for the past four months and reflects a compromise between previously passed House and Senate versions.  I believe that the text of Senate Bill … Continue reading My Statement on An Act relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth

Thank you to all those who reached out about Senate Bill 2800, the Reform, Shift + Build Act. This bill has prompted many necessary discussions about racial justice and the role of law enforcement in the Commonwealth, including communications from hundreds of constituents. I appreciate the numerous and productive conversations I’ve had over the past week, which have reinforced the … Continue reading My Statement on the Reform, Shift + Build Act

One day a while ago while having lunch in Quincy, I barely noticed at first the diversity of the people eating at the restaurant. When I did notice, I marveled at it. I thought how far we have come since the Quincy of my youth. I remember in the mid-1970s, new classmates at my elementary … Continue reading Comments at the Abington Black Lives Matter Vigil

As I filmed short videos a few weeks ago for remote Memorial Day ceremonies, I talked about how I hoped we would look back at this Memorial Day, which came while we were in the grip of a pandemic, and see it as the time when elected officials put politics aside, and as a time when all of us came together as a Nation and … Continue reading Condemnation of racism and commitment to change starts in our homes and schools, in our neighborhoods and institutions, and at all levels of our government.

Last week the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, Mitch McConnell, said that President Obama “should’ve kept his mouth shut," and that he was “classless” in speaking out. President Trump tweeted that Mitt Romney, a United States Senator, former Governor of Massachusetts, and former Republican presidential nominee, was a “LOSER!”. Speaker of the United … Continue reading We Must Demand Better

It was Friday evening, the sun had gone down, and the streets were quiet. Too tired to nap after hours of travel, I took a walk, finding the Old City, set within the high walls of centuries of stone and struggle. Not knowing exactly where I was going, I came to a square and then … Continue reading Peace in our world. Peace in our time.

I had just finished a 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning census of residents, the last task of my two weeks volunteering at Moria Refugee Camp on the Island of Lesbos, Greece. I paused to take a picture looking out over Zone 6 of the camp, as the sun was first climbing into the sky. It was … Continue reading Moria Moments – A Last Memory

I am not exactly sure what it’s called. I am not even sure how to spell it. My wife calls it a shmuta. In our family, it is the satin-like edge to a childhood blanket, worn from years of being twisted by and run between the fingers of one of my sons. I remember once … Continue reading Moria Moments – Shmuta

Three Kings Three Kings of the Hill, The Olive Grove, Moria Refugee Camp, Lesbos, Greece, January 2020 The dump truck raised its bed, and clean, bright gray gravel spilled into a pile below. The driver lowered the dump bed and drove away. Then they came. Young boys, anxious to climb on the stones, but holding … Continue reading Moria Moments – Three Kings and a Princess