Submitted by Joe Angland, Greenwich DTC chair
The Greenwich Democrats are disappointed in First Selectman Fred Camillo’s wishy-washy response to the bigotry and slurs directed at our town’s LGBTQ neighbors.
The entire Board of Selectmen rightfully condemned the hateful signs that were placed around the Pride flag at Town Hall on June 4.
Then, in his newsletter on June 9, Camillo flip-flopped, stating, “Sometimes people can, and have, put up signs to make it look like someone else was responsible for something.”
What exactly is the First Selectman suggesting? Why would he assume that anyone other than bigots placed the offensive signs? This “false flag” tactic has come into increased use by right-wing extremists, who claimed, for example, that the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6 was staged to make Trump supporters look bad. It is beneath our First Selectman to suggest a similar explanation.
Camillo also warned, “ I want to caution people about making accusations online on social media thinking they’re sure they know who was responsible for this.”
Were it the job of the First Selectman to police social media, we would urge him to instead condemn the hateful comments directed at our LGBTQ neighbors that have appeared on social media over the last week.
We gathered last week to celebrate Pride – a joyous event that included parents, children, teachers, workers, religious and political leaders, and friends.
We call on first selectman Fred Camillo not to wobble in his defense of LGBTQ neighbors, and to clearly reject the genuine bigotry our LGBTQ neighbors have faced on social media and the Town Hall lawn.