September 2017 - Parks & Recreation - 12

EDITOR'S LET TER

Hate Has No Place Here
These are troubling times in which we are living. And, I don't think
I'm alone when I say that the tragic events last month in Charlottesville, Virginia, were among the saddest and most divisive moments
in our nation's history. It was a day when the First Amendment was
uprooted from its foundation and turned on its head. On that day,
racist rhetoric erupted in physical violence, resulting in the death
of an innocent woman. What should have been nonviolent protests against removing a statue of General Robert E. Lee from a
city park, quickly escalated into violence. White nationalists, the Ku
Klux Klan and neo-Nazis, some armed with weapons and riot gear,
took their anger out on counterprotesters who also descended on the
park, and its surrounding area, to denounce these groups by protesting against their hate-filled message.
The city of New Orleans has experienced its share of controversy on
this very topic. On May 19, 2017, the city removed the last of four Confederate statues that were
once prominently displayed throughout New Orleans. Those in opposition believed the government was trying to erase the city's history and culture. However, in a speech following the statue's
removal, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu explained his decision, stating: " The historic record is clear. The Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and P.G.T. Beauregard statues were not erected
just to honor these men, but as part of the movement which became known as The Cult of the
Lost Cause. This 'cult' had one goal - through monuments and through other means - to rewrite history to hide the truth, which is that the Confederacy was on the wrong side of humanity. "
Although this decision has sparked anger and outrage on both sides of the issue, one thing is for
certain, New Orleans is a resilient city that can overcome any obstacle in its path - whether by
man or Mother Nature. NRPA is proud to host the 2017 NRPA Annual Conference in the Crescent City, which is home to the Sanchez Center, one of the foremost multipurpose centers in the
United States. Designed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Sanchez Center serves as a
testament to community unity, reminding us all that as a city, we're stronger together despite our
differences. In addition, NRPA recently added an education session, titled " Confederate Memorials in Parks: Symbols of Heritage or Hatred? " to examine the controversy surrounding these
monuments. I highly recommend attending this special discussion.
No doubt, as park and recreation professionals, we have been placed squarely in the middle of this
critical debate. However, parks should be places that unite communities, not divide them. It's our
job to create places that respect the opinions of all community members and welcome people from
all walks of life - no matter their race, creed, gender or sexual orientation. While it's clear not
everyone agrees that these monuments should be removed, I'm confident that most people in our
industry would, without hesitation, agree racism and hate have no place in parks and recreation
- nor anywhere else for that matter.

GINA MULLINS-COHEN
Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Publishing
Editorial Director
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Parks & Recreation

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PRESIDENT AND CEO
Barbara Tulipane, CAE
VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING,
COMMUNICATIONS AND
PUBLISHING, AND EDITORIAL
DIRECTOR
Gina Mullins-Cohen
gcohen@nrpa.org
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Sonia Myrick
smyrick@nrpa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Cort Jones
cjones@nrpa.org
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR
Catrina Belt
cbelt@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Creative By Design
www.creativebydesign.net
SENIOR SALES MANAGER
EASTERN REGION AND EUROPE
Kip Ongstad
703.858.2174
kongstad@nrpa.org
SALES MANAGER
WESTERN REGION AND ASIA
Michelle Dellner
949.248.1057
mdellner@nrpa.org
MAGAZINE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
Keith Anderson
Gerald Brown
Ernest Burkeen
Brendan Daley
Anthony-Paul Diaz
Ryan Eaker
Robert García
Kathleen Gibi
Tim Herd
Edward Krafcik
Todd Lehman
Sam Mendelsohn
Maria Nardi
Lisa Paradis
Gil Peñalosa
Dr. Kevin Riley
Karla Rivera
Paula Sliefert
Anne-Marie Spencer
Stephen Springs
Randy Wiger

September 2017 - Parks & Recreation

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