Sudbury Select Board Hit By Racist 'Zoom Bombing'

SUDBURY, MA — In the wake of a racist "Zoom bombing" late last month, the Sudbury Select Board is meeting to reaffirm its opposition to discrimination.

The incident happened at the June 28 meeting when a virtual meeting attendee used the Zoom chat function to post dozens of racist messages, according to the town.

"The incident is being investigated, and we certainly hope the perpetrator is identified and charged accordingly to the fullest extent of the law," an agenda item for Wednesday's Select Board meeting said.

Zoom bombing, also called Zoom raiding, exploded after the pandemic began in 2020. Cities and school districts began hosting meetings virtually, and internet trolls would take advantage of the new technology to hijack meetings and harass and intimidate people.

Sudbury Select Board Chair Charlie Russo placed two items on Wednesday's agenda about discrimination. One item would enshrine the Select Board and town's committment to opposing "any expression of hate, prejudice, intolerance, or discrimination toward any individual or group."

Russo's second item would investigate "potential events, activities, or actions reaffirming Sudbury’s support for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within the community and condemning any expression of hate, prejudice, intolerance, or discrimination against any individual or group."