#MeToo Comes to Hudson

The Register-Star reported today on a protest that took place in Hudson on Friday: "Rally fights sexual assault stigma." The protest march by a group called Jaago Hudson began at Promenade Hill and ended in front of the home of Mohammed Ali, who was recently indicted on multiple counts of predatory sexual assault against children: "Ali indicted on sex-assault charges." 

Photo: Jabin Ahmed|Facebook

In the article about the rally, Alderman Dewan Sarowar (Second Ward) is reported to have said he believes the Bengali women who organized the protest were "manipulated by people outside of the Bengali community who do not want Hudson to have Bengali elected officials." Two aldermen--Sarowar and Shershah Mizan (Third Ward)--and one Hudson supervisor--Abdus Miah (Second Ward)--are Bengali.

In a similar vein, an open letter was recently posted on Facebook protesting The Earl Show, a retrospective of work of the late outsider artist Earl Swanigan, which opened recently at Time & Space Limited.   

The letter reads in part:

It is difficult to understand why, in this #MeToo moment, TSL would choose to amplify a known misogynist and perpetrator of sexual harm. We do not accept the notion that our community can celebrate Earl's art while ignoring his crimes and abusive behavior. Doing so only serves to silence and marginalize Earl's victims. 

The letter calls for a boycott of the exhibition.

Among the many comments in response to the open letter, most defending Swanigan and questioning the veracity of some of the letter writer's allegations, there was one that suggested Swanigan may have been a product of systemic racism.
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