'Rightfully Hers' Tours Popup Display Tours Berkshire Libraries

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ADAMS, Mass. — The Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum announces a touring pop-up display which highlights the fight for the right to vote and encourage civic engagement this election year. 
 
The Rightfully Hers display was produced in 2020 for the centennial of Women's Suffrage with the support of Unilever, The National Archives Foundation,  Pivotal Ventures, Carl M. Freeman Foundation, the AARP  & Denise Gwyn Ferguson. The four-panel display highlights the final years of the suffragist fight for the right to vote, the passage of the 19th amendment, and ways that we can work to ensure the right to vote for all citizens today. 
 
"We received two copies of this display from Dr. Shannon M. Risk of Niagara University after her presentation at the museum this past June," James Capuzzi, Executive Director of the Museum said. "The museum is excited to share them with Berkshire County in hopes that they ignite a conversation about the struggles women faced to gain the power to vote and encourage all people now to vote in federal, state, and local elections."
 
Rightfully Hers will be on display at the following libraries this Fall:  Adams Free Library, 92 Park Street Adams, MA 01220, now through September 30, David & Joyce Milne Public Library, 1095 Main Street Williamstown, MA 01267 from September 30 - October 17, the Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave Pittsfield, MA 01201 from October 15 -26, and the Lenox Library, 18 Main Street Lenox, MA 01240 from October 18 - November 2. 
 
Alongside the exhibit, the League of Women Voters will be tabling at the Berkshire Athenaeum as we approach election day to ensure residents are registered and know their polling locations and other important voting information. The tour will conclude with a reenactment of Susan B. Anthony at the Lenox Library at 2:00 PM titled "Vote with Susan B. Anthony." Attendees will hear the story of Berkshire native Susan B. Anthony and make their own "Vote" buttons. 
 
"It is important that people understand the immense hardships that different groups in the United States have undergone in order to exercise their right to vote," James Capuzzi said. "Women were imprisoned, beaten, starved, and force-fed for silent protests outside the White House. We can honor their sacrifice by voting in this, and every, election."
 

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Adams Man Sentenced to State, Federal Prison for Child Rape

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An Adams man pleaded guilty on Friday in Berkshire Superior Court to multiple counts of aggravated rape of a child and aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. 
 
Brian Warner, 39, was sentenced by Judge Michael K. Callan to 25 to 28 years in state prison. 
 
The defendant pleaded guilty to the following:
  • Two counts of rape of a child with force
  • One count of aggravated rape of a child
  • Two counts of rape of a child, aggravated, five-year age difference
  • Four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14
  • Fourteen counts of aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under 14
  • Nine counts of posing a child in the nude
  • Two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material
Callan attributed the lengthy sentencing to the egregious nature of the defendant's crime. In his sentencing memo, the judge wrote, "In fashioning this sentence I have also considered the Sentencing Guidelines, which were established by a Sentencing Commission created by our Legislature and consisting of prosecutors, defense counsel, public safety and correctional officials, and victim-witness advocates. 
 
"While not mandatory, these guidelines were designed, among other goals, to promote consistency in the sentencing process in our judicial system. The guidelines utterly fail in some circumstances and this is one of them."
 
Warner produced child sexual abuse material, otherwise known as child pornography. In doing this, the defendant raped and assaulted a child over a period of two years. Law enforcement uncovered hundreds of images produced by Warner.
 
"Justice was served today, but Warner's crimes are deeply disturbing. When a child in our community is harmed, it naturally causes us to reflect on how we can do more to protect our children. To the survivor and their [singular] family, this outcome cannot undo the trauma you endured; however, I hope it offers some comfort in knowing that your abuser has been held accountable under the law," stated District Attorney Timothy Shugrue. 
 
Chief of the Child Abuse Unit Andrew Giarolo, an assistant district attorney, represented the commonwealth and Ian Benoit the victim witness advocate on behalf of the DA's Office. The Adams Police Department led the investigation with support from the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit's digital evidence lab.  
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