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Community leaders criticize Human Rights Commission appointments, cite conflict concerns
Summary
Speakers at the council meeting criticized recent appointments to the city Human Rights Commission and accused the administration of sidelining long‑serving advocacy members. Margo Barnett and others urged the council to reappoint the commission chair and to avoid perceived conflicts of interest.
Several residents used the council’s public comment period to criticize recent appointments to Worcester’s Human Rights Commission and to question whether appointees with close ties to the police undercut independent oversight.
Margo Barnett, speaking from the public, said she was “dismayed” that the council did not reappoint Ellen Shemitz as Human Rights Commission chair and warned that appointing persons with close ties to the police could undermine the commission’s independence. "Refusing to reappoint her and instead appointing someone…
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