City honors Black leaders
Rev. Thomas Hughes, Police Officer James McCall feted
OITDTCURS » City and state officials, police officers, family members and more gathered at the Legislative Chambers next door to City Hall on Friday to recognize two Black community leaders, the Rev. Thomas Hughes and Fitchburg Police Officer James McCall, honorees of the Black and Latino Caucus’ 2021 Black Excellence on the Hill virtual celebration.
“We couldn’t be more happy to present Mr. Hughes and Mr. McCall with our city citations and have the opportunity to recognize two community members,” Mayor Stephen DiNatale said.
McCall, who was a stand-out athlete at the high school and now coaches athletes there, said he was honored to be recognized along with Hughes and stand with him alongside city and state leaders.
“I tell my students I had my time; this is your time to shine,” McCall said. “Here we are standing as a great Fitchburg team. It is a great honor.”
State Rep. Mike Kushmerek said it wasn’t hard to come up with a name when it came to him making a nomination for the recognition, calling Hughes “a dynamic figure.”
“We as a city are so lucky to have you,” Kushmerek said to Hughes. “I am excited about the work you will do.”
Hughes thanked his wife of 24 years, Carolyn Dalton-Hughes, who was at the event, and his family for being there with him “every step of the way.”
“I stand here on the shoulders of giants,” Hughes said.
Hughes has lived in Fitchburg for 32 years and been pastor of the New Creation Community Church for 12 years. He is active in local civil rights movements and helped to organize a peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstration in the city last summer — Justice for George Floyd Peace Walk.
“I was just part of the team along with Three Pyramids and the minority coalition,” Hughes said prior to the event. “It was important for me personally for obvious reasons, but the main reason was to show my and the team’s solidarity as brothers for a common reason. We can agree that things need to be addressed and dealt with, but we can also agree to disagree.”
Photographer Alan Scherer captured a number of moving and powerful images at the demonstration, including a now iconic photographs of Hughes, McCall and Fitchburg Police Chief Ernest Martineau on bended knee together during a nine-second moment of silence for George Floyd.
“When we knelt down together my arm was around him and I hugged him,” Hughes said. “It was not a police chief and community organizer thing; it was a blood brother moment. We wanted to make sure we sent a clear message that things are not going to be tolerated and that it was going to take a community team effort. Community working with law enforcement and law enforcement working with community. I wanted to make sure when the demonstration was over nothing would be destroyed, that we treat our city like our house. We can disagree respectfully and still be heard.”
Kushmerek said Hughes was a “key leader” in organizing the BLM demonstration last summer, “bringing thousands together for peaceful protest.”
“Rev. Hughes brought together elected officials, law enforcement and thousands of activists, all while doing so in a day which resulted in the city’s lowest daily crime rate the entire year,” Kushmerek said.
Hughes was appointed as an Atlarge City Councilor by City Council last month, the first Black person to hold the position.
“We are all working together for a common goal and moving the agenda forward,” he said. “It has nothing to do with being Black or Hispanic, it is about everyone working together to move in the right direction. I try to hear people and be the voice for them.”
“Rev. Thomas Hughes of Fitchburg has been a dynamic and selfless leader in the city of Fitchburg for a generation and I am proud to nominate him for recognition of Black Excellence on the Hill,” Kushmerek said. “In February 2021 Rev. Hughes added trailblazer to his resume, becoming the first African American to serve on the Fitchburg city council in the city’s history.”
This the second time Hughes has been part of the Black Excellence on the Hill Celebration — former Sen. Dean Tran also nominated him.
“It is an honor to even be considered for such an opportunity and be thought of; it is special to me,” Hughes said. “I want to do my part to make Fitchburg a better place and make people want to come here and drop their anchor and say this is where I want to raise my kids.”
State Sen. John Cronin nomi
nated McCall to be an honoree at the Black Excellence on the Hill Celebration, calling him a “Fitchburg legend,” not only for his role in the community as a police officer but as “a mentor to kids on the basketball court and football field.”
“Officer James McCall was an easy nomination for this award,” Cronin said prior to the event. “As a police officer and high school coach, James is a community leader young people look up to and respect. He’s a great mentor and role model. We’re lucky to have men like James McCall stepping up, giving back, and serving their community.”
McCall said it “means a great deal” to him to be nominated and honored.
“As a proud African American male, I’m trying to show our young men and women of color that if you put your mind to something anything can be accomplished,” McCall said prior to the event.
Fitchburg Public Schools Superintendent Bob Jokela and Athletic Director Craig Antocci attended the ceremony in support of McCall. McCall has also lived in Fitchburg for 32 years, since he was 13, and has been a city police officer for 17 years. In addition, he is the head men’s varsity basketball coach and assistant varsity football coach at the high school and has also coached track and field there.
“What I love most about coaching is the helping of molding young minds, and seeing young men turn into men in a short time,” he said.
A self-described man of few words, when asked what he plans to do to as a community leader spotlighted for his efforts McCall said simply: “Be myself.”
“I’m going to continue to serve my community in each capacity that I hold and try to teach others to do the same.”
‘As a proud African American male, I’m trying to show our young men and women of color that if you put your mind to something anything can be accomplished.’
– Police Officer James McCall, on being honored
‘We are all working together for a common goal and moving the agenda forward. It has nothing to do with being Black or Hispanic, it is about everyone working together to move in the right direction. I try to hear people and be the voice for them.’
– The Rev. Thomas Hughes, on being honored by the city of Fitchburg