At the end of Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, why does Reverend Buckminster side with the Phippsburg townspeople against the people of Malaga Island?

Reverend Buckminster’s decision is driven by what he learns about Turner’s connection to Lizzie, an African American girl from Malaga Island. Rather than defend the islanders, he sides with the Phippsburg townspeople after finding out Turner went to the island with Lizzie Griffin. The other choices concern money, the baseball equipment, or potential support for the islanders, not the revelation that changes the reverend’s position.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.