We, the YMCA of Greater Boston, stand with others in denouncing the deplorable events that occurred in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021. Those events were an assault on our democracy and demonstrated how fragile that democracy can be. We witnessed lawlessness and desecration, a failure in leadership, and disparities in the exercise of power. 

Is there hope for democracy? 

Yes, there is hope for democracy, and that hope lies in the leaders of tomorrow. The events of yesterday call upon us to teach our young people how to properly exercise their first amendment rights of free speech and assembly. With that said, we will “double-down” on our commitment to the YMCA Youth & Government Program, which teaches young people how to be legislators, lawyers and journalists. I have, personally, witnessed the transformational power of the Youth & Government Program. It also teaches that “democracy is learned one generation at a time.”  

What we witnessed yesterday was unacceptable, but democracy will prevail – it must!

Yours in service,

James O’S. Morton, Esq.
President/CEO
YMCA of Greater Boston