A neighborhood city assembly was interrupted by a hateful outburst on Tuesday when somebody reportedly shouted an antisemitic slur, displayed a swastika on their Zoom display and appeared to offer a Nazi salute, based on police who’re investigating.
Winthrop city officers are condemning the “Zoombombing” through the Town Council assembly. The unidentified individual interrupted the assembly throughout a dialogue concerning the city’s flag flying coverage.
The particular person reportedly used an ethnic slur that’s described by the American Jewish Committee as being utilized by white supremacists to denigrate Jewish individuals. The hateful outburst is now the topic of a police investigation.
“During a civic discussion on the flying of flags on town property, an individual seized the meeting to use it as a platform for hate speech and to display symbols of hate, intimidation and nazism,” stated Town Council President James Letterie.
“We condemn this act and all acts of hatred in or around our community, and we will always call out and condemn hatred in all its forms,” the council president added. “There is no place for it here in Winthrop.”
Antisemitic incidents have been rising throughout the nation within the wake of the Hamas terrorist assaults in Israel.
The city of Winthrop stated it’s actively reviewing its public assembly videoconferencing procedures and insurance policies following the Zoom incident.
“Winthrop has shown its true nature in the recent past when we banded together as a community of support and caring in the aftermath of a racially-motivated double murder in 2021,” stated Town Manager Anthony Marino.
“We came together then and we will always come together in unity to condemn hatred and intolerance and to fight fear and intimidation,” the city supervisor added.
The Winthrop Police Department can be reaching out to its state and federal legislation enforcement companions.
“The Winthrop Police Department is actively investigating this incident as a hate crime,” Police Chief Terence Delehanty stated. “We will respond aggressively to this attack on our community. There is no place for hate in Winthrop. Not in person; not online; not anywhere.”
ADL New England posted on social media, “Zoombombing made an unwanted comeback in @townofwinthrop last night & continues to disrupt our civic forums and city council meetings with hate & #antisemitism. Be prepared to turn them off.”
Zoombombing made an undesirable comeback in @townofwinthrop final evening & continues to disrupt our civic boards and metropolis council conferences with hate & #antisemitism. Be ready to show them off. https://t.co/r2KaNEQT8Q
— ADL New England (@ADL_NewEngland) December 6, 2023
Source: www.bostonherald.com”