Display of Nazi banner rebuked by both parties
Political leaders from both sides of the aisle are denouncing a sign that briefly appeared in Southbury over the weekend comparing Democrats to Nazis.
“I don’t know who put it up but it should be destroyed because it’s disgusting,” said Ben Proto, chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party.
The banner depicted two donkeys, the symbol of the Democratic Party, adorned with swastikas and said the party is “antijews.” It was displayed during a small gathering on state-owned land at the intersection of North and South Main streets in the center of town on Saturday. It has since been removed.
Gary Garofalo, the chairman of the Southbury Republican Town Committee, said he noticed a few people standing near the sign Saturday. Several of them held anti-biden or pro-trump flags, he said.
“It was a small gathering, seven or eight people and none were from town,” Garofalo said.
Southbury First Selectman Jeffrey A. Manville was at a wedding in Rhode Island when he got a text message about the sign. “I have no idea who put it up there,” said Manville, a Republican.
The board of selectman was scheduled to hold a special meeting Wednesday night to approve a statement denouncing the sign.
Southbury has a history of standing up to Nazis. In the late 1930s, Nazi loyalists had plans to turn farmland into a youth camp.
But the town rallied against the idea and prompted the legislature to swiftly approve new landuse rules barring camps.
“I’m proud of that,” Manville said. “There’s no place in Southbury for Nazis.”
Manville said he has had conversations with the town attorney about the matter and plans to bring it up when he meets with the state police later this week.
Nancy Dinardo, the chairwoman of the Connecticut Democratic Party, issued a statement early Wednesday denouncing “Southbury Republicans” for the sign. Asked for evidence that the Republican Party erected the sign or endorsed it, a spokeswoman for Dinardo could not provide any.
“If the sign was not produced by Republicans in Southbury, we stand corrected, but it was displayed on the same corner where ‘Trump Won’ and other Republican signs are placed,” Dinardo said. “It remains a disgusting display of hatred and ignorance. We are grateful for the comments of the first selectman.”