Lawrence, Massachusetts, Mayor Brian DePena ignited a widespread reaction online after requesting the use of a translator during a court-related hearing on Friday, raising questions about language proficiency and public office.
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. The mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts CAN’T speak English, so he begged for a translator in court.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 21, 2025
Anyone seeking public office in America should be REQUIRED to be fluent in English.
This shouldn’t be controversial. At all.
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During proceedings connected to the state’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, DePena asked that his personal assistant serve as a Spanish-language translator. The presiding judge denied the request, citing concerns that the assistant had not been independently verified as a neutral or certified translator. Because neither the judge nor opposing counsel spoke Spanish, officials determined that allowing an unverified translator could risk inaccuracies that might affect the integrity of the case, according to The Post Millennial.
The moment, captured on video, quickly circulated on social media and ignited debate. DePena, who was born in the Dominican Republic, immigrated to New York City in the early 1980s before relocating to Lawrence in 1989. Lawrence has a strong Latin American influence, with census data showing that more than 82% of residents identify as Hispanic.
The hearing itself was about former Lawrence Police Chief William Castro, whose law enforcement credentials were revoked following a 2024 police chase and a subsequent false report. Castro was accused of driving the wrong way down a city street during the pursuit. He later claimed in an official report that he had been responding to an armed bank robbery, though investigators determined he was actually pursuing an individual suspected of cashing a bad check.
Documents uncovered by NBC10 Boston Investigators indicate that Mayor DePena attempted to limit or interfere with the investigation into Castro, who is considered a political ally of the mayor. Those revelations contributed to the scrutiny surrounding DePena’s involvement in the case.
Reaction online was swift and often critical, with many users expressing disbelief that an elected official would request a translator during official legal proceedings. Some commenters questioned whether fluency in English should be a prerequisite for holding public office, while others framed the incident as emblematic of broader political and cultural tensions.
Supporters of DePena, however, have noted that Lawrence’s large Spanish-speaking population makes bilingualism common in local governance, though he was clearly not proficient in English, leading critics to argue that the issue was broader than bilingualism and that the court’s decision underscored the legal requirement for certified and impartial translation in judicial settings.
The episode has fueled ongoing debate over language, culture, and accountability in public office, particularly in communities with large immigrant populations.
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This is why we need an official languate of English in the USA. In France it’s French, in Portugal its Portugese, in Germany its German, In China Its Chinese, in Japan its Japanese, In Egypt it Egyptian, In Italy its Italian, In switzerland Its swiss. In Great Britian its British. in Norway Its Norwegan, in Sweden Its Swedish, In Finland Its finish, In Russia, its Russian, in Korea It Korean, In Viet Nam Its Vietnameese, in the mideast it is arabic, and in Minnesota its Somalia, India, Laos, and Ethiopian. American may be the melting pot of the world but our official language is and should be English. to be able to read, speak, and understand english. States that issued commerical drivers licenses learned a valuable lesson with several people getting killed due to ignorance of english written signs. We need everyone to be on the same page if we are to exists as a nation that is going the same direction.
I cannot even believe this conversation is even going on. English may not be the official language in this Country, but it is by far the most predominate. That a government official cannot speak the language is absolutely ridiculous. It is high time that English BECAME the official language. It never was a problem before as it was a requirement to be English proficient in the past to become a Citizen. It should be again. And it most certainly should be a requirement for a government official. We have enough confusion in this Country with people stealing money from government programs and sending it to terrorist groups overseas and then complaining that they are being called on the subject. Send THEM packing and claw that money back.
Yet these idiots vote this kind of BS in office.
What a damm shame, I remember when speaking English was the ONLY language in the UNITED STATES. To me this is totally an embarrassment . So glad I move away from this corrupt state.
Well, it looks likes the Lawrence, MA voters sure used their smarts when they elected this guy. Another case of “The voters got exactly what they deserve!”.