Feb. 10 -- A resolution condeming this weekend's anti-Semitic hate crime was passed by the Board of Selectmen tonight. Ridgefield Democrats had met Monday night to mobilize in response to this weekend's hate crime. The Town Committee learned that the car of a Jewish family in a Ridgefield residential community had been spray painted with the words "Die Jew!" in an orgy of vandalism which escalated to a number of apparent felonies this last weekend.
This latest series of incidents included the by-now routine mailbox smashing, but had apparently escalated to defacing private property, breaking into cars and stealing property, and had culminated in this hate crime, which under Connecticut laws is a felony. This was the latest in a series of anti-semitic incidents in recent months, including several at the high school and an inflamatory letter to last month's Ridgefield Press. Observers noted that events that often begin as youthful pranks turn ugly and hurtful when combined with messages of hate and intolerance.
Democratic Selectmen Barbara Manner and Mike Jones had promised to focus this Wednesday's Selectmen's meeting on an aggressive Town response to this disturbing development. Selectman Manners resolution was offered to accomplish this. Further, Democrats Susan Cocco, Chairman of the Ridgefield Diversity Committee (part of the Ridgefield Clergy Association), and Mark Robinson, Chairman of ROUND (Ridgefielders Organized for Understanding and Diversity), urged that the town's immediate focus be on insuring a thorough police investigation of what is evidently a serious felony, and in making all townspeople aware that the cancer of ethnic and racial hatred is unfortunately alive in Ridgefield. Both Mark and Susan urged concerned Ridgefielders to show support for the victimized family by writing letters to The Ridgefield Press, by speaking with their own families about intolerance, and by working together with other friends and neighbors to put an end to this type of action.
Democrats also stated that they would ask that discussion of this development be added to the agenda for Thursday's meeting of the Ridgefield Police Commission.
Democratic Town Committee Chair Rudy Marconi noted, "Ridgefield, like other towns, has had sporadic bias incidents over the years. This latest outrage is no youthful prank, but represents an escalation to a level that is alarming. Our entire town needs to come together to insure that we put a stop to this intolerable behavior."
GO TO
Campaign News
Brought to you by the Ridgefield, Ct.
Democratic Town Committee, Rudy Marconi, Chairman
Paid for by The Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee, Mary Gelfman, Treasurer
