Police Investigating Racial Slurs During Bethel Graduation Stream

BETHEL, CT — Police are looking for whoever posted racial slurs during the livestream of the Bethel High School graduation Thursday night.

The offensive language appeared during the beginning of the presentation, and officials promptly killed the online feed.

"We made the decision to take it down immediately because we did not want to give that individual a platform for hate," Superintendent Christine Carver and Principal Chris Troetti said in a letter to parents on Friday. "We have contacted the Bethel Police Department to assist us in trying to identify the individual responsible for this hate crime."

The irony of sending the letter on the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth was not lost on the administrators, who voiced their "anger, frustration, and sadness" over the "incredibly offensive racial slurs."

"This hate incident reemphasizes the work that we must do to end racism in our country, state, and community," the letter said.