To: Hamden Mayor Curt Leng, Hamden Town Council President Mick McGarry
We demand ethical, professional and honest government from Hamden Town Council!
We represent a coalition of community members who are vested in Black and Brown lives. We recognize racism as a public health crisis and condone the racist tone and behavior of council member Valerie Horsley toward fellow council member Justin Farmer at the Hamden Town Council meeting on 4/6/21. Ms. Horsley not only demanded for Mr. Farmer to address her by her professional title, she publicly cursed at him and justified her behavior by contending that she is a member of a tribe of women, which is cultural misappropriation and misuse of language. Additionally, Ms. Horsley's aggressive behavior obstructed Mr. Farmer's ability to participate and contribute to the meeting, as well as publicly disenfranchised his being as a black man. We demand that you and Ms. Horsley immediately publicly apologize for this disrespectful and arrogant behavior, also for Ms. Horsley to be released from her duties as council representative for District 4 and for you to publicly declare racism as a public health crisis.
Why is this important?
The world is waiting to see if Derek Chauvin, the white former police officer will be convicted for the murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. Meanwhile in Connecticut, Black and Brown people are anxiously awaiting the declaration of the oldest pandemic, racism. In the midst of this, Valerie Horsley, a white woman and Hamden Town Council member representing District 4, used profanity against a Black man and fellow council member, Justin Farmer, exercising her privilege by demanding he refer to her by her professional title, justifying her demand by her acclaimed 'tribal' roots.