Hallowell, ME – The City Council meeting on Sept. 11, which began with a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of the 9/11 attacks, was tainted by anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist comments spouted by individuals who joined in remotely.
At around 6:05 p.m., after the meeting had started, a person in attendance via Zoom requested to speak during the time designated for residents to offer comments about issues not listed on the agenda. He then unleashed a diatribe, spewing conspiracy theories about the 9/11 attacks and anti-Semitic comments.
Officials muted and removed the person from the meeting immediately only for another person on the call to join in, shouting racist slurs and then hurling expletives at ex-mayor and former state Rep. Charlotte Warren, who was also in attendance.
Both individuals were using fake names while in the meeting.
Following the commotion that went on for about a minute, officials shut down the remote meeting and decided to adjourn it indefinitely.
“It was absolutely disgusting,” said City Manager Gary Lamb. “There is no call for it in this country, in this state or in this city.”
The fact that Warren was called out by name suggested that the perpetrators could be Hallowell residents, but nothing concrete is known yet, said Lamb.
Hallowell police Chief Chris Lewis said the incident seemed similar to what other municipalities, including South Portland and Biddeford, have experienced in the recent past.
“My gut feeling is it’s not a targeted incident. It’s just an ugly act with the purpose of disrupting the municipal process by attacking people’s feelings and emotions, unfortunately,” said Lewis, adding that his department will be contacting the other targeted municipalities to compare notes and discuss the incidents.
The police department has sent a notification to Zoom to add the video recording of the meeting as a form of evidence and seek assistance on how to proceed further. Police are also working to track down the IP addresses of the perpetrators.
