First Selectman: Increasing Hate Incidents Reported in Connecticut

A “Superintendent’s Conversation” for school parents last Tuesday on the topic of acts of bigotry and the response to it was the focus of most of First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky’s fortnightly column in the latest town government newsletter.

The meeting was held after graffiti with a racial slur (the “N” word) was found twice in a girls’ bathroom at Middlesex Middle School, once in January and again in February.

In the Town of Darien Newsletter emailed on Friday, March 23, Zagrodzky passed on some of the information from the meeting and added some of his own comments.

(Darienite.com has another article on the other part of the column, about the massive construction site downtown.)

Here’s the full text of the major part of Zagrodzky’s column and the pictures accompanying it:

At the invitation of Dr. Alan Addley, Darien schools superintendent, I had a chance to participate in his Superintendent’s Conversation for parents, which took place in the Middlesex Middle School auditorium this past Tuesday.

The reason for the event was the discovery, again, of another racial slur written in one of the school bathrooms. As Dr. Addley said in his invitation to parents, “We must collectively and firmly stand against these actions, and I ask for your continued support in making this clear to our students.” The conversation was led by representatives from the area chapter of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

Our ADL partners painted a grim picture of trends in such incidents. It’s a reminder that while we must continue efforts against discrimination, this work will never actually end. “America’s constant curse,” as President Bill Clinton said in his second inaugural.

That said, I came away from the event quite hopeful. Those present asked engaging questions, signaling both purpose and resilience. The mood seemed to reflect the broader sentiment I get when speaking with others about this, which is that we will not back down when faced with bigotry, hate and mistreatment. In addition, the ADL presented a variety of ways to improve dialog, foster understanding, and de-escalate difficult situations. All very useful and practical.

The last thing I’d say about this is that shared experiences build understanding and friendships. Social gatherings, volunteering, community projects, summer programs – all are great ways to connect with others. The more we can do to seek out such opportunities, particularly for our young people, the better.