A snowman resembling Adolph Hitler was discovered in Westport, Connecticut last Sunday, the Jerusalem Post reported. According to the report, the snowman, which was photographed by a hiker in the Newman Poses Preserve, had a swastika drawn on its body and was performing a Nazi salute.
By Rachel Avraham
A snowman resembling Adolph Hitler was discovered in Westport, Connecticut last Sunday, the Jerusalem Post reported. According to the report, the snowman, which was photographed by a hiker in the Newman Poses Preserve, had a swastika drawn on its body and was performing a Nazi salute. Additionally, the Jerusalem Post reported that its design featured a mustache and hairstyle that closely resembled those of Hitler. According to the report, the hiker contacted a local Rabbi and reported the incident on a blog before it was brought to the attention of the police.
The Anti-Defamation League released a statement on Facebook last Saturday expressing “deep concern” about the incident and calling “upon community leaders to speak out against this hate.” Soon afterwards, a number of local leaders responded to the incident. First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker told NBC Connecticut, “This incident does not reflect the beliefs of our community. Westport strives to be a welcoming community, where everyone feels like they belong. I will continue to lead with that goal as my North Star and will work with the Police Department to ensure everyone feels safe and heard.”
State Senator Ceci Maher, State Representative Jonathan Steinberg and State Representative Dominique Johnson also issued statements denouncing the anti-Semitic snowman that was discovered. “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 Sen. 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. 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,” said Rep. Steinberg.
“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,” said Rep. Johnson. “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.”
According to the Anti-Defamation League, this comes one year after it was reported that antisemitic incidents surged to historic levels in 2023, with a 170% increase in Connecticut – a record setting year. A total of 184 antisemitic incidents were recorded in Connecticut in 2023, relative to the 68 incidents recorded in 2022. There were 115 recorded incidents of harassment as compared to 55 incidents in 2022, and 69 incidents of vandalism compared to 27 incidents in 2022. According to the ADL report last year, Connecticut is the 29th most populous state, and yet ranks as the state with the 15th most antisemitic incidents in the U.S. in 2023.
A total of 82 communities across Connecticut, 49% of all cities and towns, saw at least one antisemitic incident in 2023, according to ADL data. This is up from only 34 municipalities reporting incidents in 2022. Included in the count are incidents where college students experienced antisemitic harassment during class and on campus, doctors at a hospital making antisemitic comments to a Jewish colleague, over 25 synagogues receiving bomb threats, and Jewish people being regularly harassed as they go about their daily lives.
ADL Connecticut Regional Director Stacey Sobel stated following the ADL report on Connecticut last year: “Antisemitism is raging in our local communities, in our schools, in the workplace, and on the street. Antisemitism cannot be a problem only for the Jewish people, it is incumbent upon everyone to stand up and speak out. We call on every person who cares about living in a decent society to reject anti-Jewish hatred.”
