‘Hate from cowards.’ Danbury leaders condemn white supremacist group’s demonstration
The group identified itself as Northeast Action and carried a banner that read, “Keep New England White.”
More Stories
Danbury leaders sent a strong, unified message Monday after a white supremacist group demonstrated at the police department over the weekend.
A video posted to Reddit shows about a dozen masked people outside the Danbury Police Department holding a sign that says, “Keep New England White.” In it, chants of “white power,” can be heard. The group identified itself as Northeast Action and posted pictures and video to its Telegram channel. It was shared on social media by an outraged state legislator and quickly made the rounds.
Mayor Roberto Alves said Danbury was targeted because of its diversity.
“I saw hate from cowards. Folks who probably don't even live in this community, who put masks on in the middle of the night when nobody's around to spew things,” stated Alves, who addressed the situation alongside Danbury lawmakers and the police chief.
Chief Patrick Ridenhour said police didn’t know about the rally until it was over. He said the group was on the sidewalk in front of police headquarters for about 10 minutes, then walked downtown where footage showed them yelling and doing Nazi salutes.
“At this point, it seems like that there is no criminality, but we're reviewing video,” Ridenhour explained. “And anyone else in the downtown area who has video, we just want to review that to make sure there was nothing criminal to what they were doing.”
Even so, officials said the group's message has no place in the city.
“Anytime we see the Nazi salute, it really brings back all of those memories of the Holocaust, and I'm old enough to have grown up right after that. It impacted my life and made me want to fight against any form of bigotry, racism, discrimination, exclusion,” said state Sen. Julie Kushner. “It's an effort to terrorize our community and that's been something we've all stood against, united against.”
“We are stronger when we are together,” added Alves, pointing to last month’s rally in support of the local immigrant community and against the recent escalation of ICE activity in the city. “That was thousands of people—thousands of people without masks, carrying American flags in our city as we stood together. Not 10 or so cowards walking in the cover of darkness to not be seen so that their family members and neighbors and employers don't know who they are. All this is, is the present day KKK, and we will unmask them.”
Monday afternoon coverage
Sunday coverage
