As we have seen on the news, there appears to be a spike in “hate speech” since the election. This letter comes to us from an African American resident of Mamaroneck, and has been verified.-editor
To the Editor:
I am terribly disheartened. Â I was extremely disappointed at the outcome of this election. Â I am trying to make the best of this situation and accept it with grace. But an incident over the weekend in Manor Park has shocked us.
My teenaged daughter and I were taking a walk in Larchmont Manor Park last Friday, on what turned out to be a beautiful Veterans Day. We even ran into a friend and chatted. As we walked down the path overlooking the serene blue water, we approached a bench with three white boys in their mid teens speaking to each other inaudibly.
As soon as they saw us, they started chanting loudly “TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP” repeatedly, followed by what sounded like a racial slur. My daughter grabbed onto me tightly as we passed them and started weeping. I stopped as soon as heard the slur, turned to them and said “did you just say N$&/#@?” To which one replied and said “no I said trigger!” And laughed. I said “you know what- bring it – you want to start some mess say that in my face!” To which they got up and walked in the other direction.
I didn’t go there to fight, but I needed to show her that if they had the right to instigate that I had the right to stand up to their racist rhetoric.
Anonymous
Mamaroneck
Update: Governor Cuomo has set up a hotline for reporting incidents such as this one. From his email:
“Residents who have experienced bias-motivated threats, harassment or discrimination are encouraged to call our toll-free hotline at (888) 392-3644 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. If you want to report a crime or fear for your safety, call 911 immediately.”
Good for you to stand up to them. I also wish I were there, I would take their picture and publicize their hateful acts. We all must call out hate and racism as soon as we see it, to send a message it will not be tolerated and WILL be punished in the court of public opinion (and the law, if heinous enough).
I’m very saddened to learn of what happened to you and your daughter. The question is, what can we, as a community, do about this?
It is terrible that you and your daughter had to experience this. Please know that I and others in our community will stand up against racism, anti-semitism, and discrimination & bigotry of any kind. Hateful acts will not be tolerated here. I am glad you were able to speak up on the spot. Thank you for letting the community know that this happened.
No bigots should be allowed in our town. I am so sorry that you had to experience bigotted remarks.
It is a terrible sign of the present times.
I am so sorry that you and your daughter had to endure this hurt at the hands of these fools. Parents: hate is taught. If your children disrespect people, the blame should be laid at your feet. Know what your kids are saying and doing. I’ve seen what some kids put out there on FB, Snapchat, etc. Also, good for you for confronting them. They probably felt like tough guys … until you showed them how small they really were…
I too want to express my sorrow for what happened to you in Manor Park. This election has brought out some people’s racist and misogynistic beliefs out into the open. This behavior and language is never acceptable and threatens all of us. We all have to speak out against this behavior and language whenever we are confronted with it. Allowing it to pass unchallenged only compounds the problem.
I am so sorry this happened to you and your daughter. I’m happy to hear you stood up to them–as must we all when we see this kind of behavior.
I wish I was there. Would have taken their picture and posted all over social media. These people have always been here…we can just “see” them now. And I say. Let’s all see them and hold them accountable. I also won’t be silent in the face of such hatred. Silence is unacceptable.
I am so deeply sorry that happened. They should add to the sign at the entrance,”No Bigots.”
As a Larchmont resident who loves the beauty of Manor Park, I am so sorry to hear that this ugliness happened there.