Hallowell council assembly reduce quick after a number of hate speech rants
A hybrid Hallowell Metropolis Council assembly was reduce quick Monday evening, after a participant on Zoom recognized themselves as Gene Atkinson and commenced utilizing anti-Semitic hate speech and ranting about 9/11 conspiracy theories.
Hallowell’s new police chief, Chris Lewis, who was set to introduce himself to the group in the course of the assembly after taking the job only a few weeks in the past commented on the incident.
“The vulgar language, the hateful language that was beginning to come throughout was extraordinarily disturbing,” he stated.
The decision got here in instantly after metropolis leaders took a second of silence in honor of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror assaults.
“It’s terrible. It’s completely terrible,” stated Hallowell Metropolis Supervisor Gary Lamb. “I imply, that was a horrible day within the lifetime of our nation.”
When a second caller started shouting racial slurs, metropolis leaders determined to finish the assembly.
Police are investigating and say the particular person or individuals might face felony fees, which may very well be prosecuted underneath hate speech legal guidelines.
“Clearly disrupting a public assembly might be checked out for disorderly conduct,” Chief Lewis stated. “It was positively hateful speech and it was directed at a particular group.”
Lamb stated the incident is forcing town to alter how individuals can take part throughout public touch upon Zoom calls going ahead.
“If anyone needs to attend the assembly, they must e mail us, ask for the Zoom invitation, after which we can have an IP tackle to trace who they’re if they need to attempt to do the identical factor sooner or later,” he stated.
Hallowell Police are working with the Maine Legal professional Common’s Workplace and the Maine Pc Crimes Job Power in hopes of getting IP addresses, and figuring out those that have been concerned.
