FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 20th, 2024
Contact:
Diana Martinez, diana@katalcenter.org | 860-580-9402
Follow on Instagram @KatalCenter | #CutShutInvestCT
Middletown Inland Wetlands Watercourses Agency Continues to Hinder A Black-Owned Farm from Operating and Serving the Community
Middletown, CT—Last Thursday, August 14, at the Middletown Inland Wetlands Watercourses Agency (IWWA) monthly meeting, the Commissioners kept the Cease-and-Desist Order on Lovie’s Farm and provided no meaningful support or solutions. This process has been riddled with delays, avoidance, procedural hurdles, and even police intimation to deter Mr. Mitchell–one of a few Black farmers in Middletown–from operating a community farm.
Statement from Matt Mitchell, Owner of Lovie’s Farm and Cultivating Justice Member at the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice.
“There are moments when the weight of the struggle becomes overwhelming, and it feels like every step forward is met with an even stronger force pushing me back. Dealing with the officials in Middletown has often left me feeling isolated and powerless as if my dreams for Lovie’s Farm are being systematically dismantled by forces beyond my control. The relentless harassment and intimidation have created a sense of despair that threatens to overshadow the hope and vision I have for the farm and the community it serves.
Yet, amid this darkness, I find myself holding onto a vision of a better future—not just for Lovie’s Farm but for Middletown as a whole. I believe in the possibility of a more inclusive and just community where innovation and diversity are not only welcomed but celebrated. I hope that through this struggle, we can pave the way for meaningful change, ensuring that the next generation of farmers, regardless of their background, will find in Middletown a place where they can thrive.”
To learn more about Lovie’s Farm, please attend the Farm Action Day this Saturday, August 24 from 2-4pm at Lovie’s Farm (350 Randolph Road, Middletown). See flyer for more details.
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