As of mid December, more than 375 Berkshire County residents have pledged not to stay silent in the face of intolerance or discrimination.

The list is growing, and come January, towns, cities and organizations will be able to make the same declaration against hate to the group Multicultural BRIDGE, according to Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant, its CEO.

Great Barrington's Select Board is now on record as standing against “hate based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity or any other factor.”

That was the situation Monday night (Nov. 27) as individual selectmen signed a “Not In Our County” pledge presented to them by Multicultural BRIDGE, a Lee-based advocacy group that offers diversity programming in the Berkshires.

“The Bridge and many partners are working together on a campaign to stop hate in the Berkshires,” said Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant, who head Multicultural BRIDGE. “But really we have more of a positive spin about needing to all work together and forge a coalition to promote equity, trust and justice.”