Lost in much of the discourse is how such moments land

By members of Ashland Together and Ashland Sunrise Project

Much has been said and written about what unfolded during public testimony at the May 20 Ashland City Council meeting. While some resolution has occurred, we believe something essential remains unspoken. This moment calls for a deeper kind of reckoning — one that moves beyond individual intentions and invites our community to confront the discomfort that often surfaces when race, power and harm are named in public.

Lost in much of the discourse — both defending and condemning the comment that sparked this controversy — is how such moments land for those who live at the intersection of race, gender and marginalization. Councilwoman Gina DuQuenne, presumed to be the only Black person in the room that night, was not just a bystander. And yet her experience, like that of so many others, has been largely overlooked or debated rather than respected and understood.

When the word racism is spoken, the conversation often shifts — not toward the person harmed, but toward the discomfort of those who feel implicated or misunderstood. That response, whether defensive or dismissive, is part of a long-standing pattern that too often derails honest reflection and meaningful repair.

This moment is not just about one comment or one evening. It’s about what we, as a predominantly white community, are willing to see — and what we are willing to change. Let it be an invitation to listen more deeply, respond with courage and humility, and walk together toward a more honest and inclusive sense of belonging.

Ashland Together team members: Hillary Larson, Gina DuQuenne, Elizabeth Fairchild, Connie Minoque,Harriet Watson, Brady Rubin, Tamsin Taylor, Irene Kai, Tara Houston, Karen Sauer, Eva Skuratowicz.

Ashland Sunrise Project: Tamsin Taylor, Cassie Preskenis, Gina DuQuenne, Allyson Phelps.

Hillary Larson is also a member of the Ashland.news board.