Statement in support of Desmond-Fish Public Library

Dear friends, neighbors, and Chamber members,

Our community recently experienced another attack motivated by hatred. Someone using a false identity joined a children’s class on Zoom hosted by the Desmond-Fish Public Library and exposed the children and the teacher to racial slurs, sexist remarks, and lewd language in the chat section of the Zoom meeting. This kind of behavior is reprehensible and cannot be tolerated. It is also a criminal act. Freedom of speech does not include the right to make obscene or hateful comments under a false identity at a private event. The Cold Spring police and the Putnam County sheriff’s department are investigating.

The Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce joins the librarians of the Mid-Hudson Library System, the Village of Cold Spring trustees, the Haldane Central School District, and other local organizations in expressing abhorrence of this cowardly act. The Chamber is dedicated to advancing equality and diversity in our community. We offer our support, open ears, and compassion to the staff and users of the Desmond-Fish Public Library and anyone else targeted or injured by this incident. While the incident and the disgraceful attitudes behind it are not unique in our community, they do not represent the values of most community members.

Sincerely,

Eliza Starbuck & The Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors