RLINGTON
ACISM
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A Statement from Lynette Martyn
I am writing to announce that I am stepping down from the Arlington Fights Racism Steering Committee, effective immediately. I deeply regret the damage my actions have caused AFR and the candidates associated with AFR’s platform of advancing transparency and inclusion, promoting anti-racism efforts in Arlington, and helping to build a safe community. Independent of my intentions, in contacting Ms. Preston, my failure to reflect before reacting came from a place of privilege and is inexcusable. Most personally painful is the knowledge that I did not stop to reflect on the potential consequences of my behavior to Kelda Fontenot. For that I am incredibly remorseful.
My decision to resign is my way of acknowledging my abuse of the white privilege, class privilege, and a whole lot of other privileges I enjoy. It is my hope that this will enable others to separate my actions from the work and achievements of AFR and the candidates AFR has endorsed. I apologize to all the AFR candidates and supporters, as well as to those at-risk community members, who will be most impacted by the setbacks resulting from my behavior to the work of dismantling inequities in Arlington. The damage I’ve inflicted can never be fully undone and I own that. I will use this time to reflect on my actions, and to begin the work of doing better.
I encourage all Arlington residents to educate themselves fully about each candidate, and to vote tomorrow based on research and facts.
Respectfully,
Lynette Martyn
A statement from AFR about the Arlington Housing Authority race
The Arlington Fights Racism (AFR) Steering Committee is aware of the controversy involving one of our members and an Arlington Housing Authority board member. We are saddened by the distraction this is causing and are attempting to deal with the facts as they emerge. We wish to apologize to all the candidates running on the AFR platform for drawing attention away from their campaigns, and for the unfortunate predicament in which they find themselves because of it. Lynette Martyn has voluntarily stepped down from the Arlington Fights Racism Elections Committee and from her role as Kelda Fontenot’s campaign manager.
We categorically reject any insinuation that Lynette or any AFR Steering Committee Member has contacted Jo Anne Preston or any of the AHA incumbent’s supporters about their endorsements. No evidence has been provided to back up these false accusations.
We hope these allegations do not prove detrimental to Ms. Fontenot’s candidacy or to those of our TMM candidates, and we urge the community to focus on the many strengths each of them would bring to the offices to which they aspire. We are continuing to sort fact from fiction regarding this unfortunate episode. The voters should rest assured that we consider ourselves accountable to the truth and to the community.