Lamont, Others Condemn Racism After Manchester Arrests

MANCHESTER, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont, state legislators and members of the Manchester community condemned racial slurs and hate crimes after two men were arrested in the city after an incident June 21.

Two men were arrested after they allegedly yelled racial slurs at three Black teenagers in Manchester June 21, according to police. One of the teens told police that he was nearly hit by the car. The teens also reported that one of the men got out of the car and ran after them.

Lamont encouraged every state resident to stand up and say something when they see racist actions or words, including things like jokes with racial overtones. He also called on President Donald Trump to take a stand against racism.

“We need a President of the United States who is also willing to stand up,” Lamont said. “...sometimes I think he is willing to stand up for those confederate statues, but he wouldn’t lose any sleep if the Statue of Liberty was knocked off her pedestal,” Lamont said.

Lamont said he wants to see big fundamental changes dealing with issues of institutional racism dealt with, but it’s unlikely many will be solved during the special session because it will be short and in the middle of a pandemic. Police reform matters are expected to be taken up during the special session.

He noted he wanted more diversity for state prosecutors and judges.

Manchester Board of Education member Tracy Patterson said that the work has to be done to dismantle institutional racism could be called the second phase of the civil rights movement.

“No, you can’t just remove the statues, put BET awards on CBS and change the names of music groups, change packaging on cereal, rice, syrup to make up for 400 years systematic racism slavery and oppression,” she said, adding that those things were the right things to do, but they should’ve been done a long time ago.

She encouraged people not to be pacified until true change occurs.

State Rep. Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford) echoed the same sentiments and promised action in the special legislative session to deal with the issues. He said that Martin Luther King Jr. wrote about education inequality, police brutality and issues of segregation in his last manuscript and that the country was dealing with the same issues

“I implore you, do not let the energy wane continue to be upset, continue to be angry, continue to demand change,” he said.