The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Zoom bomber disrupts debate in U.S. House race
Threats and profanities interrupt forum in 1st District
WASHINGTON — An online debate between U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1, and his challengers was Zoom bombed by an individual or individuals making profane comments and violent threats Monday night.
Over several minutes, many inappropriate comments flooded the Zoom chat as Republican Mary Fay, Green Party candidate Tom McCormick and Larson debated in an event hosted by the League of
Women Voters of Greater Hartford. Some of the comments could be read in a Youtube video recorded of the debate, before a box was imposed over the comment section blocking it from view.
Nearly 90 people were in the Zoom meeting, and video of the debate was distributed on live television.
Some of the comments seemed directed at Fay, who is openly gay, and were sexual in nature. Larson and the moderator were also named in at least one comment seen by Hearst Connecticut Media. Fay said other comments directed at the candidates threatened violent attacks, including cutting their throats and
killing them.
“It was horrible,” Fay said in an interview Tuesday. “I wasn’t expecting that. It was very graphic.”
Fay said she was upset the virtual audience could see the comments, including her 10-year-old daughter who was watching. She also found the remarks distracting as she tried to debate, she said.
Larson also condemned the attack.
“It is despicable that they attacked Connecticut's first LGBTQ congressional candidate and the nonpartisan moderator,” Larson said Tuesday.
“This type of hatred has no place in Connecticut.”
A member of the West Hartford Town Council,
Fay said she emailed the West Hartford police chief Tuesday afternoon to report the incident, unsure where to start reporting such a cyberattack but wanting to make a record of the incident. A sergeant with the West Hartford Police said they had no information about the report available Tuesday evening.
The comments did not appear to come from any of the Zoom participants, but instead seemed to originate from an outside “hacker,” said Jennifer Evans, executive director of West Hartford Community Interactive, which broadcast the debate. She reported the incident to Zoom, Evans said.
Last week, a campaign event held by U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5, was similarly interrupted by racist comments, epithets and what Hayes called “derogatory music.” Hayes has spoken openly about facing racism during her campaigns and at the U.S. Capitol.
“I can’t help but think they’re somewhat related. They’re just hate. They’re hateful speech,” Fay said. “We should probably compare notes to see if there’s any commonality.”
The League of Women Voters of Greater Hartford did not immediately respond to a request for comment.