A group of local citizens in Bridgewater has formed an organization, whose goal is to ensure that Bridgewater is a safe, inclusive community, one of civility and respect for all.
The organization, Bridgewater Citizens for Civility and Respect (BCCR), was established in the winter of 2015/2016, in response to two local incidents in which individuals were verbally accosted in public. The cause of this seemed to be that their appearance and perceived cultural identity was assumed to be Muslim. BCCR responded by working towards its goal of enhancing and creating an atmosphere of community welcome and inclusiveness so that Bridgewater should be a place of civility and respect. In the Town, intolerant speech and behavior are unacceptable. The Town remains a safe and respectful place to live, work, play, conduct business, and attend school. A Proclamation stating these goals was unanimously approved on January 19, 2016, by the Bridgewater Town Council. An enlarged copy of the document was officially unveiled at the Academy Building on March 3, 2017. While deploring the incidents of hate speech and verbal assaults, the proclamation states that: “The Town of Bridgewater respects the rights of all persons in our town to:
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