The former executive director of the St. John’s Status of Women’s Council says she’s pleased details of what happened prior to her resignation from the job are finally out in the public.
Through Access to Information, the Independent newspaper uncovered correspondence prior to a written complaint to the Status of Women’s Council’s Board of Directors, which accused Wright of creating division.
Among others, the letter was signed by the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women and RNC Chief Joe Boland.
Wright says it’s important for those who are “speaking out and pushing back” to understand the landscape within which they are operating.
She says this is the reality of what it’s like working in the activism community in Newfoundland and Labrador right now.
Some of the best indicators of the health of our communities is in who feels safe to speak out – who's supported when they do. It’s our collective responsibility to hold up & defend activists.
— Jenny Wright (@JenEWright) October 12, 2019
Wright says she had a “solid working relationship” with the former Chief of Police. She says knowing Chief Boland’s role, it puts a real “chilling effect” on speaking out.
As for allegations that a divide was created in the feminism sector, Wright says that divide has always been there.
Look around your community at the activist voices you're *not* hearing from right now – queer women, Indigenous women, union women, sex working women, nonbinary folks who are not as visible anymore. Why are more of their voices gone? B/c they're exhausted, burnt, pushed out.
— Jenny Wright (@JenEWright) October 12, 2019
She says it’s how you deal with those divisions that makes the difference. She says it’s hard enough, but becomes problematic when key figures decide they don’t like your opinion and come after you.
Chief Joe Boland is expected to respond to the issue later this week.
