East Haven Councilman to NAACP President: "We're Not All Racists"

EAST HAVEN, CT - The fallout from the viral video of a Hamden woman racist statements at the ShopRite in East Haven last week is continuing. The president of the NAACP in the state put out a statement to WTNH-TV saying he "has been fighting against racism in East Haven for many years."

The NAACP president in his statement to WTNH called the video "very disturbing but not surprising."

Those comments didn't sit well with East Haven Town Councilman Joseph Carfora, who issued his own statement to Patch.

Carfora's statement is below:

"DON'T PAINT US ALL WITH THE SAME BRUSH......I have read the comments from the NAACP president on the WTNH website regarding his "fighting racism in East Haven for years" and the now infamous Shop Rite video with Corrine Magoveny-Terrone's rants described as " disturbing but not surprising" and I am compelled to respond to this.

"While I have the utmost respect for the NAACP, they need to be cognizant of the fact we are not all racists in East Haven so please don't paint us all with the same brush. I fully acknowledge there have been problems here in the past due to some bad apples but the majority of our residents are hard working good people trying to make a living and take care of their families.

"Most importantly, it should be made clear that Ms. Magoveny- Terrone is a New Haven resident (now formerly employed by the Town of Hamden) and is not an East Haven resident or employee. This episode regrettably occurred within our boundary but there was no involvement with any of our towns people.

"There is absolutely no argument that the contents of this video are disturbing to me as well but saying it is "not surprising" projects an insinuation that this is typical or even stereotypical behavior here and that is simply not the case.

"The fact of the matter is,there is a more diverse demographic purchasing homes and investing in businesses in our community now than ever before. That would not be happening if these racial under currents were as prevalent in town as they are purported to be.

"We have had enough black eyes given to this town and we don't need another when it is not deserved."

Joe Carfora

3rd District Town Councilman