It’s time for a timeout

By Canton Citizen Publisher Beth Erickson

I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

These words have guided me throughout nearly four decades as publisher of this newspaper. But after 15 months of providing residents a forum to express their opinions on the Karen Read case, I believe the sometimes hate-filled letters are creating even more hate in a town that is truly suffering. Because of this, the Citizen is placing a moratorium on any letters or columns related to the trial or the police audit between this week and at least the first week in September. We will continue to cover the case until it reaches a conclusion. We will cover the ongoing police audit and report on any federal investigations related to Canton.

And we will, of course, continue to publish (and welcome!) letters that are not related to the above topics.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.

This statement was included in the United Nations’ 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As the publisher of one of the last surviving local newspapers in the country, it’s a belief that I hold dear. But at this point, it seems the letters are doing more harm than good. The moratorium is a “timeout” — hopefully a way to bring down the temperature and let cooler heads prevail.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=125501

Posted by Canton Citizen on Jul 12 2024. Filed under Featured Content, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.