Superintendent, First Selectwoman Respond To Racist Westport Incidents

WESTPORT, CT — Recent vulgar incidents of racist language directed at two Black Westport students, as described by their parents, has prompted Westport's Schools Superintendent and First Selectwoman to forcefully denounce the occurrences.

News 12 Connecticut reported the appearance of Dr. Carol Felder and her husband, Richard Anderson, at Thursday's Board of Education hearing describing the chilling incidents, in which their children, one a Staples High School student and the other a Bedford Middle School student, were subjected to racist taunts.

Felder and Anderson reportedly said the taunts included the children being called monkeys and the n-word.

In a message to parents on Friday, Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice said Felder and Anderson were brave for coming forward with "their painful experience of racism targeted at their children," and that the community must meet the challenge of fighting racism.

"Let me be clear: we do not tolerate racism and other forms of hate in our schools," Scarice wrote. "When we learn that a student has been targeted based on their identity, we first take steps to ensure that the student is safe and supported. Following an investigation, we take swift, decisive action and those responsible are held accountable.

"I have had the privilege of meeting in the past couple of months with the parents who spoke publicly last night, and I want to respond to their question, 'Can you imagine?' In short, my answer is 'no,' I cannot imagine what it would be like to suffer through their experience. I do, however, know this: no student, no person, should ever have to face discrimination or harassment based on their race. We will listen, we will learn, and while there is no cure for the virus of hate, we will continue to ensure that our schools do all we can to fight against it."

Also on Friday, First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker said that she was shocked and disappointed by what occurred at the two schools, and that hate has no place in Westport.

"Every time I speak publicly, even as recently as last week at the State of the Town address, I state that one of my top priorities is to ensure Westport is a place where everyone feels like they belong - where people feel safe and seen and heard," Tooker said. "I regularly acknowledge that we have more work to do as a community.

"It is with shock and disappointment that I listen to the devastating comments made by parents at the Board of Education meeting this week. I want the residents and business owners to know there is no place for any form of hate in Westport. There is no place for racism in Westport. Our community strongly rejects hate in all forms."

Westport has long prided itself on its inclusive and tolerate nature, and officials have vociferously denounced antisemitism and racism in the past.

Scarice said the community must work together to keep fighting hateful acts.

"I encourage anyone within our school community who experiences or witnesses acts of hate or discrimination to report them," Scarice said. "We will continue to engage with students, staff, and families to listen, learn, and take further actions that contribute to healing and reconciliation. It is essential that we work together with the entire Westport community so that everyone in our schools and broader community is treated with dignity and respect."

"We must all stand together and speak clearly and unequivocally on this issue," Tooker added. "We should demand accountability. Westport has my unwavering commitment to continue to work with local leaders, including TEAM Westport and the school administration, to create a supportive environment where we, as Superintendent Tom Scarice said, treat each other with dignity and respect. We all want to feel like we belong. Every one of us deserves to feel valued. When one of us is harmed, we are all harmed."