WESTPORT DELEGATION DENOUNCES ANTI-SEMITIC SNOWMAN DISCOVERED IN TOWN

The Westport delegation, including State Senator Ceci Maher, State Representative Jonathan Steinberg and State Representative Dominique Johnson, today denounced an anti-Semitic snowman discovered this week in the Newman Poses Preserve. The snowman had a swastika on its body, while its face appeared designed to resemble Adolf Hitler and one of its arms was raised in a Nazi salute.

The Anti-Defamation League of Connecticut issued a statement expressing “deep concern” about the snowman, which was discovered in a local park by a hiker, decrying use of a swastika and citing the offensive nature of the snowman’s design.

“This pathetic display is an example of the fear anti-Semitism tries to derive from the public, and that it was left anonymously in a local park is evidence that its creator knows they should be ashamed of themselves,” said Sen. Maher. “Our community cannot and will not condone anything like this, especially in already heightened tensions and times. I’m proud that the Westport community is coming together to denounce all forms of hate.”

“This is a disgusting display of hatred, not to mention failure; the Nazis lost World War II and their ideology has been pushed to the margins for nearly a century since. I’m heartened that the Westport community is immediately coming together to reinforce that this is completely unacceptable and has no place here or anywhere,” said Rep. Steinberg.

“This depiction of Hitler, swastikas and antisemitism is an act of malice meant to strike fear in the hearts of residents, and I’m proud of the Westport community for its universal disgust regarding this snowman,” said Rep. Johnson. “Fear and hate thrive in darkness, not in the woods of Westport. We are always stronger when we look out for one another and recommit ourselves every day to keep building an inclusive community representing all of us. This intimidation will not deter us in that goal.”

Contact: Joe O’Leary | 508-479-4969