FAIRFIELD — Chief Robert Kalamaras reports that the Fairfield Police Department has launched a hate crime investigation after an unknown person used racial epithets and racist remarks during a video conference meeting of the Racial Equity and Justice Task Force (REJTF) Thursday night.
The REJTF was hosting a virtual meeting among its members Thursday night, April 22, when at approximately 7:30 p.m., an unknown person who had joined the meeting began to share their screen using images of slaves and say racial epithets and racist remarks to the group. The meetings of the REJTF are open to the public.
Some of the racial epithets used by the individual were directed at Black members of the Task Force during the incident.
The incident was quickly reported to the Fairfield Police Department who immediately launched an investigation.
Where necessary, state and federal law enforcement agencies will be consulted during the investigation for assistance.
“This is something that we take extremely seriously and will investigate to the fullest extent,” Chief Kalamaras said. “There is no place for this type of racist behavior and language in our community and we will do everything we can to identify the person who committed this disgusting act and hold them responsible. The members of this local task force are working to make our community a better and safer place for everyone, and it’s abhorrent to see their meeting disrupted in such a despicable way.”
The matter remains under active investigation and further updates will be provided as they become available.
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