Fairfield, Racism And The Woman Behind The Signs At Old Town Hall

FAIRFIELD, CT — Ashley Crowe stood on Town Hall Green Wednesday with three large A-frame signs and a stack of handouts. The signs, black with white lettering, included the messages, “It is necessary to become antiracist,” “Your privilege is not cute,” and “Fairfield, CT is the incubator of my oppression.”

“Do I feel mentally safe here and emotionally safe here? No, not really,” she said.

Originally from the Cayman Islands, Crowe, who is black, grew up in Fairfield’s beach area and graduated from Fairfield Ludlowe High School before moving to Chicago for college and a career in acting. She returned to Fairfield amid the coronavirus pandemic, during the week following George Floyd’s death in the custody of Minneapolis police, an incident that sparked nationwide protests against racism and police brutality.

“I’m trying to keep this on white people’s minds,” said Crowe, who is on the green most days from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., setting up the signs each morning with the help of her father and brother.

Crowe said she is not outside Old Town Hall to educate white people about racism herself, but distributes a handout written by a white ally that explains the basics of racism, including suggested further reading and antiracist actions white people can take in their daily lives. The signs also feature a QR code that refers passersby to educational documents and resources about racism.

Sometimes people join Crowe on the green, but she asks that when they do so, they bring a book to educate themselves, such as “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo.

Some passersby are offended by the signs. Some see her sign that reads, "Black Lives Matter, my life matters, we are people, not problems," and tell her that all lives matter. One woman screamed profanities at her.

“The good outweighs the bad but the good is very complicated and arguably not great,” she said. “And the bad really sucks.”

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said she received emails last weekend from residents who were unhappy about the signs. Kupchick defended Crowe’s First Amendment rights.

Many have questioned the sign targeting Fairfield specifically, Crowe said. But white supremacy goes beyond the stereotype of the vocally racist Nazi — it’s about elevating white standards in society, she said. In a town like Fairfield, where nearly 90 percent of the population is white, white supremacy manifests covertly in the form of microaggressions, which are subtle expressions of prejudice.

“I have lots of stories where I personally felt oppressed here,” Crowe said, adding she has received pushback for calling out racism in town.

Since returning to Fairfield, Crowe has not participated in any of the local protests held in response to Floyd’s death.

“It felt more performative than intentional and mindful,” she said of the demonstrations.

Crowe is leaving town at the end of the month, but until then, she and her signs will remain outside Old Town Hall.

“I feel called to do this work,” she said.