To the Editor:

I am writing this letter regarding the article “Peaceful, homegrown Black Lives Matter rally draws 140 to Berne” and a captioned photo as posted online, Monday night, Aug. 10, 2020.

The photo I am referencing is a photo of me and Julia Hammond at the recent event in the Berne Town Park. The photo was grossly mis-captioned. I’d like to set the record straight.

First, the photo caption says, “Lisa DeGroff, handing out flyers that claim Black Lives Matter is a terrorist group” is the first inaccurate statement. If the author of the caption, Melissa Hale-Spencer, took the time to read the flyer, the information accurately mentioned some facts.

Facts, being Susan Rosenburg is a convicted domestic terrorist. Facts, being she heads the fundraising arm of the Black Lives Matter Organization. If Ms. Hale-Spencer took the time to do some journalistic investigation of her own, she would have found that these are indeed true and legitimate facts.

In addition, the flyer never stated the Black Lives Matter Organization were domestic terrorists but rather a person of influence who leads the fundraising for the organization is a domestic terrorist. Therefore, using the word, “claim” would be to slant or otherwise cast doubt about the contents of the flyer as if its contents were not true.

Much like the Black Lives Matter Organization and Ms. Sarah Gordon herself have done, they ask others to question their allegiances to certain groups, businesses, or people because of their loyalty to certain causes, this flyer asked the reader to do the same of those who support the Black Lives Matter Organization — as an organization, not the original intended purpose.

Second, the photo caption says, “has a heated conversation with Julia Hammond, a strong supporter of the BLM movement.” This statement is the grossest violation of the truth of all. In fact, there was nothing at all heated about my conversation with Ms. Hammond or the two others present for the duration of the entire hour we talked.

In fact, we had a very respectful and informative conversation. Each of us explaining our point of view, our stand on certain positions, and taking the time to ask each other questions and, more importantly, listen to each other. There were times during our hour-long conversation where we even agreed with each other on certain points.

Again, if Ms. Hale-Spencer took the time to be involved in what we were discussing rather than spending less than two minutes capturing a photo and taking names, she would have seen what was actually happening, which was productive dialogue, an attempt to better understand each other and to work toward finding common ground. (At least that was my intention, when engaging in the conversation.)

I largely blame the media for the widening of the divide between races. As is the case with this caption — the author went with the “controversial and antagonistic” approach because after all that’s what sells. We all agree that it is a small percentage, on both sides, that behave inappropriately but by publishing material such as this, with captions such as this, the media strengthens and widens the divide between us all.

“Journalism” like this hampers efforts made by some of us to find common ground and work toward a common goal of making sure everyone is treated fairly and with respect.

I’m saddened that the time I spent with Ms. Hammond has been portrayed the way it was by The Altamont Enterprise. However, I will not let this caption cheapen or diminish the productive and informative dialogue she and I had.

I have much respect for her and the two others engaged in our conversation, mostly for being as respectful as they were to me and for taking the time to sit and talk. I know these conversations are happening, all the time and all over this country. Wouldn’t it be great if the media reported this?

Lisa DeGroff

Westerlo Republican

Committee Chairperson

Editor’s note: I chose to lead my story with the courageous speech given by CiCi Ferrara because, to me, it epitomized what the home-grown rally was about; I then mentioned some of the dozens of other people I talked to. Your conversation was heated enough that a State Trooper approached but you assured him you were fine and, as you write here, having a meaningful dialogue — of which I approve. I did read the flyer, which is posted with your letter on our website. It is headlined, “Black Lives Matter: Is this really an organization you want to support?” It starts with a picture, presumably of Susan Rosenberg, captioned, “My name is Susan Rosenberg. I am a domestic terrorist … I run Black Lives Matter.” Hence, I wrote that you were “handing out flyers that claim Black Lives Matter is a terrorist group.”