Westport State Legislators Denounce Antisemitic Snowman Incident

WESTPORT, CT — Members of the Westport delegation of state legislators — State Sen. Ceci Maher and State Reps. Jonathan Steinberg and Dominique Johnson — join the Anti-Defamation League and First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker in denouncing an anti-Semitic snowman discovered this week in the Newman-Poses Preserve.

The snowman, discovered Sunday, had a swastika on its body, while its face appeared designed to resemble Adolf Hitler and one of its stick arms was raised in a Nazi salute.

In a statement, the Connecticut chapter of the Anti-Defamation League issued a statement expressing "deep concern" about the snowman, which was discovered by a hiker in the park.

"The swastika is the symbol adopted by Hitler as the primary emblem of the Nazis," ADL CT wrote. "The Holocaust was a singularly evil event, and it is inappropriate and offensive to make light of it"

"This pathetic display is an example of the fear anti-Semitism tries to derive from the public, and that it was left anonymously in a local park is evidence that its creator knows they should be ashamed of themselves," said Maher. "Our community cannot and will not condone anything like this, especially in already heightened tensions and times. I'm proud that the Westport community is coming together to denounce all forms of hate."

"This is a disgusting display of hatred, not to mention failure; the Nazis lost World War II and their ideology has been pushed to the margins for nearly a century since," Steinberg said. "I'm heartened that the Westport community is immediately coming together to reinforce that this is completely unacceptable and has no place here or anywhere."

Added Johnson, "This depiction of Hitler, swastikas and antisemitism is an act of malice meant to strike fear in the hearts of residents, and I'm proud of the Westport community for its universal disgust regarding this snowman. Fear and hate thrive in darkness, not in the woods of Westport. We are always stronger when we look out for one another and recommit ourselves every day to keep building an inclusive community representing all of us. This intimidation will not deter us in that goal."