Alleged slur hurled during Trump parade

WEST CHESTER » Police are investigating an incident inwhich a racist slur was allegedly directed at a Black woman by at least one participant in a pro- Trump vehicle procession that passed by her home over the weekend.

A borough police report stated that there were four people who reported that a caravan of Trump supporters heard honking their horns and voicing their support of President Donald Trump had also shouted the offensive insult as they drove along the 300 block of New Street, where the woman lives.

The police showed up after the Trump parade had passed and could not immediately obtain identification of any of the vehicles involved, according to Mayor Dianne Herrin, who was notified of the incident Sunday.

“I am deeply saddened, but not surprised, by the hatred shown to our community by theparticipants in the Trump caravan that rode through our town on Sunday,” Herrin said in a statement Monday. “It is yet onemore example of the racism that is all too alive and well in our society today.”

The caravan and its interactions with people in the northwest borough neighborhood — one with a significant number of Black residents — was videotaped by a neighbor who is said to be ready to share it with investigators.

In an interview Tuesday, the woman who was apparently the target of the racist insult said the incident left her in shock and angry but that she was hoping to let it pass.

“I don’t want any trouble,” she said. “We don’t need any trouble here.”

The woman, who asked that her name not be used to prevent any further harassment, said she was sitting on her front porch in the afternoon Sunday when she heard car horns honking and shouts coming up her street from the central business district.

“I’m on my porch all the time,” the lifelong borough resident said. “I watch the kids. Everybody knows me.”

She said the parade of “about 20” cars, pickup trucks and motorcycles continued by her home, which has a pro- Biden sign along its front walkway. She said she decided to pick the signupandwave it at those who were going past, but at first didnot do so until they were almost out of sight. She then went back to the porch.

A few moments later, however, the caravan returned, she said, emblazoned with pro- Trump signs and flags. She got off her porch again and this time was able to wave her Biden- Harris yard sign at the passersby.

“I thought it was a fun thing,” the woman said. “They had a nice little parade there. I mean, you should vote for who you want to vote for. But they turned it into this.”

She said that as shewaved her Biden sign, a woman who was riding on a motorcycle made an obscene gesture at her, and that she responded inkind. Itwas then, she said, that a man who was inside a pickup truck shouted the insult at her.

“I said tomyself, ‘ Oh, my, no you didn’t,’ she told a reporter. “I was just so mad.”

The woman said the parade kept going, and that some of her neighbors who had been brought outside by the noise ran over to console her, saying they, too, had heard the insult. The woman said shewas unable to get the license number of any of the vehicles involved, and did not recognize any of the participants.

Aneighbor of thewoman, who also asked that her name not be used so as to avoid any repercussions, said she had heard the caravan going past noisily and went outside to investigate. She did not hear any racist slurs being used, she said, but saw the woman with others and asked her what had happened.

“She was visibly upset,” the neighbor said. “Her feelings had absolutely been hurt. She said, ‘ I don’t care who you vote for, but I don’t need the name calling.’”

The 300 block of North New Street is lined with signs supporting the BidenHarris ticket, the neighbor said. “It is very visible on the block, very heavy for Biden. There are no Trump signs.” West Chester has a higher than 2- to- 1Democratic voter registration edge.

Such caravans have become a part of the political landscape in the nation in past weeks, with supporters of both candidates — President Donald J. Trump and former Vice President Joseph Biden — organizing a variety of parades with road vehicles and, in some cases, boats.

There have been at least three such events in Chester County on recent weekends, with a pro- Trump car parade circling through streets in the central part of the county on Saturday, Sept. 12, organized by the Uwchlan Township Republican

Committee, and then a counter- rally organized by the West Goshen Democratic Committee on Saturday, Sept. 26.

It is unclear what group might have organized Sunday’s caravan. Dr. Gordon Eck, the chairman of the Chester County Republican Committee, said his organization and the Trump campaign, “are not involved in organizing car parades.”

He defended the president’s record on race relations, and accused Biden as having policies that have devastatingly disenfranchised African- Americans. “Minority support for the president is growing as people become more aware,” Eck said, all forms of racism “are to be absolutely and unequivocally denounced.”

Herrin, a Democrat and supporter of Biden stressed that the incident was not indicative of West Chester.

“I know this community, and this is not who we are in West Chester,” she said. “We will continue to stand up and fight for equity and justice with everything we’ve got – at the ballot box and beyond.”

“I knowthis community, and this is notwhowe are inWest Chester.”

— Mayor DianneHerrin