Tara Parrish, director of the Pioneer Valley Project, which operated the church sanctuary program, hailed the council’s vote.
“Springfield is a safer city tonight,” declared Parrish. ” At the end of the day, love won over fear.”
As with earlier city council meetings when the Welcoming Community Trust ordinance was on the agenda for debate, the City Hall council chamber was packed with people, many standing and spilling into the hallway.
