Politics & Government
Wallingford Lawmaker Criticized For Racist Retweet, Apologizes
Republican Craig Fishbein, a state representative & member of the Wallingford Town Council, was criticized from both sides over the retweet.
WALLINGFORD, CT — Republican Craig Fishbein, a state representative and also a member of the Wallingford Town Council, is being criticized by both Democrats and Republicans for retweeting a racist meme over the weekend. Fishbein represents the 90th District, which includes Cheshire and Wallingford.
Fishbein retweeted a meme that included a picture of former Vice President Joe Biden speaking at an event with the text: “If you aren’t setting fire to buildings… Then You Ain’t Black!”
Democratic House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, along with Majority Leader Matt Ritter and Rep. Brandon McGee, chair and vice chair of the legislative Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, criticized the retweet with the following joint statement:
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“Representative Craig Fishbein's blatantly racist retweet is beyond tone deaf – it is hurtful, inflammatory and bigoted. We would like to hear how Republican leaders across the state respond to this cowardly act of bigotry by Rep. Fishbein. Silence is not an option.”
House Republican Minority Leader Themis Klarides quickly condemned the retweet.
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“This tweet is not representative of the CT House Republican Caucus,” she wrote in a statement. “We unequivocally condemn it. In light of the events that have occurred in the last few days, we need to figure out how to heal as a country and behavior like this should not be condoned in any circumstance.”
Fishbein issued the following statement late Monday afternoon:
“This weekend I retweeted a meme that mischaracterized recent comments from a presidential candidate and related them to protests in response to the unimaginable and very tragic death of George Floyd in Minnesota.
“I shared the meme without comment in a subtle attempt to point out a double standard regarding political speech. Without explanation, there was no context. I was wrong.
“The meme was offensive, period.
“I apologize to the people of the 90th district, my colleagues in the General Assembly and to the people of Connecticut.”
See also: Wallingford Town Council Censures Fishbein For Racist Retweet
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