Pro-Palestinian Group Lashes Out Against West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A pro-Palestine group based in Connecticut Wednesday lashed out against West Hartford officials regarding public outcries following last Sunday's pro-Palestinian protest in town.

But while the group claims West Hartford is attacking their right to protest, West Hartford officials said the issue isn't that, but the vandalism that occurred during the event.

On Sunday, West Hartford police said about 150 pro-Palestinian protesters marched in West Hartford, starting at West Hartford Town Hall and continuing to West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square.

The group was urging a cease-fire in Gaza, where Israel and Hamas are fighting a war following Hamas' October 2023 terror attacks that killed thousands in Israel.

On Saturday, West Hartford's Jewish community rallied in town to commemorate 100 days of the war and urged the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. West Hartford has the highest Jewish population in the state.

Sunday's pro-Palestinian protest resulted in the vandalism of West Hartford businesses with red paint, alarming the local community and prompting a police investigation.

But a group calling itself the "Connecticut Palestine Coalition" Wednesday, lashed out at West Hartford officials and law enforcement, accusing them of being political pawns against "incidents of free expression and protest."

The CTPC is accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza as part of the war, a stance being repeated worldwide amid centuries-old divisions between Israel and the Palestinian people.

"In particular, we wish to denounce the mendacious political pressure to 'make arrests' around incidents associated with a demonstration and march in West Hartford, CT on Sunday 1/21/2024," wrote the CTPC in a statement.

"It is particularly atrocious that there are concerted efforts by political actors, such as West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor, to conflate free speech and peaceful protest with violence to justify such potential arrest," wrote the CTPC.

"Such political pressure to erode civil and political rights has enabled and will further police action to surveil, intimidate, and disrupt lawful organizing, expression, and protest. There is a clear double standard being applied to those protesting Israeli acts of genocide, occupation, and apartheid."

West Hartford officials Thursday said the issue is not about the protest, but the result of what happened — namely the splattering of red paint all over West Hartford businesses.

“West Hartford is a welcoming community where all voices can be heard and respected," Cantor told Patch in a statement.

"Peaceful protest and free speech is a cornerstone of our democracy, but whenever a gathering of people turns unlawful by committing vandalism or defacing of property like we saw on Sunday, Jan. 21, there are consequences to those actions. The West Hartford Police Department is investigating the incident and violators will be arrested.”

From Jan. 22: 'Protesters Vandalize WeHa Businesses: Police'