SC Connecticut News

(Norwalk, CT) – On June 15, 2023, Mayor Rilling released the following statement regarding the defacing of Hartford’s Black Lives Matter mural last weekend and the importance of communities celebrating Juneteenth across the state.

“I was outraged that someone defaced Hartford's beautiful Black Lives Matter mural last weekend using swastikas and white supremacist messaging. I firmly denounce these hateful actions and am thankful that local artists have repainted it with beautiful images representing love and unity ahead of Juneteenth celebrations throughout the state this weekend. I also want to thank the Hartford Police Department for quickly working to apprehend the person responsible for this disgusting hate crime.

Norwalk stands with Hartford and the rest of the state as a united community that strongly condemns hate and instead embraces love, community, diversity, and our history. I'm proud that this Saturday, Norwalk will celebrate Juneteenth at the Norwalk Green to recognize our history, specifically June 19, 1865, when the Emancipation Proclamation finally took effect for all previously enslaved people across the United States. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places that were still under Confederate control at that time. Juneteenth is a day of celebration as well as an increasingly important reminder of how freedom and justice have been historically delayed for Black people in our nation. It is my hope that the more we celebrate diversity and talk about our nation's history, including events such as Juneteenth, the less we will see racist hate crimes across our communities and the more we will continue to realize that the beauty in diversity is our greatest strength.”

Original source can be found here.