My husband and I lived on Hope Street during the first year that Pierce Brothers moved in across the street from us. We became great fans of the coffee they make. I remember the burning smell that accompanied the coffee roasting process. I didn’t think it was that big a deal. We figured that as the company grew, it would deal with the problem in time.
My concern is this: Why is this “neighbor” not named in The Recorder stories about the harassment of Pierce Brothers employees? This is somebody who is allegedly making anti-Semitic remarks against the people who work there and possibly threats against them. He should be named. He shouldn’t be allowed to anonymously express these opinions. And he definitely should not be allowed to harass the people at the coffee company.
Is this a policy of The Recorder not to name someone who expresses hate language? Freedom of speech says the person can say what he wants, but why do you have to protect his identity? If you print what he says without identifying him, don’t you become complicit in the expression of his anti-Semitism?
Linda Jones
Charlemont
Editor’s note: The individual accused of making anti-Semitic remarks has not been publicly identified during the various public meetings on the subject.