Greenwich Forms Antisemitism And Anti-Hate Task Force

GREENWICH, CT — First Selectman Fred Camillo this week announced the formation of The Greenwich Antisemitism and Anti-Hate Task Force, which will aim to address any acts of hate and bigotry in town while serving as a resource for the community, and perhaps even a model for the rest of the state.

The task force is composed of elected officials, educators, clergy members and residents:

• Fred Camillo, first selectman
• Margaret Hazlett, head of school, Greenwich Academy
• Rabbi Mitchell Hurvitz, senior rabbi, Temple Sholom
• Scott Kalb, Greenwich resident
• Miriam Kreuzer, Greenwich RTM member
• Becca Levine, task force co-chair, Greenwich resident
• Ralph Mayo, principal, Greenwich High School
• Kamele McLaren, director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, Greenwich Academy
• Adam Rohdie, head of school, Greenwich Country Day School
• Meryl Sole, task force co-chair, Greenwich resident
• Rebecca Steck, head of school, Greenwich Catholic School
• Alecia Thomas, director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, Brunswick School
• The Rev. Marek Zabriskie, rector, Christ Church
• Mark Zuccerella, deputy chief, Greenwich Police Department

First Selectman Fred Camillo said Friday during his weekly radio appearance on 1490 WGCH with Tony Savino that he was approached about the idea of a task force a few months ago.

"We met again [Thursday], and there were some really good ideas about what to address and initiatives to look at to bring to the community," Camillo said. "It's really not just antisemitism, although that's foremost in the news today, but all acts of hate. This is about staying on top of it, being proactive and also serving hopefully as a model for the rest of the state."

The task force has been given data by the Greenwich Police Department about incidents of anti-semitism and acts of hate, Camillo said.

"It became apparent to us that sometimes people just don't know who to call. In one instance, a person whose child experienced bullying five times contacted somebody who really wasn't the proper channel," Camillo added. "Most people are not going to know this. I think it's our job to make this process clear and tell people what they can do and who to contact. This task force can also serve as a resource."

To that end, the task force could look to establish a phone and web-reporting system for the community to utilize.

Plans and initiatives haven't been finalized yet, Camillo noted, and the task force plans to meet again in the coming weeks and months "to go more public and incorporate a lot more ideas."

Camillo clarified to Savino that task force member Scott Kalb is not serving as a liaison to the Board of Estimate and Taxation and there is no financial component associated with the task force, although an announcement from the town listed Kalb's title as a BET member.

Kalb approached Camillo, and asked if he could serve on the task force, Camillo said, noting the listing of "BET member" next to Kalb's name was "an oversight on my part."