Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

WATCH: Connecticut City Employee Harasses Jewish Family Over Pro-Israel Yard Sign, Encourages Others To Join
Daily Wire ^ | Feb 15, 2024 | By Kassy Dillon •

Posted on 02/16/2024 9:46:45 AM PST by Red Badger

New Haven mayor tells The Daily Wire his city is 'reviewing the matter' as Jewish residents say community is 'very shaken and felt targeted'

Thabisa Rich outside a Jewish family’s home alongside a professional photo on her LinkedIn. (Source: Courtesy and LinkedIn) A New Haven, Connecticut city official with an anti-Semitic social media history chanted ethnic cleansing slogans with a megaphone outside a Jewish family’s home, and encouraged others to return with her, according to video obtained by The Daily Wire.

Thabisa Rich, New Haven’s Community Outreach Coordinator for the Department Arts, Cultural and Tourism, set up outside the home of local rabbi with a megaphone after spotting a “stand with Israel” yard sign, causing a scene in a residential neighborhood of the Connecticut city. Rabbi Elchanan Poupko said he was alerted of the woman’s demonstration by his concerned wife, and went out to confront her.

“This Sunday, my wife informed me that someone was outside our house with a megaphone screaming pro-Palestinian chants,” Poupko told The Daily Wire. “I went outside and confronted her for protesting outside a private Jewish house when a car stopped and a masked man joined her.”

A representative for New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said Rich’s comments only represent herself and that they are “actively collecting information and reviewing the matter.”

“While people have very different and strongly held views on the war between Israel and Hamas, the mayor believes there is an appropriate time, place, and manner in which to express them,” the spokesperson told The Daily Wire. “Mayor Elicker believes Ms. Rich exercised very poor judgement in this regard and finds several of her personal social media posts to be concerning and offensive.”

VIDEO AT LINK..................

Rich wiped her personal Facebook page where she posted video of her activism after The Daily Wire contacted her.

In videos posted of the incident by both Poupko and Rich, the city official can be heard repeatedly shouting “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a chant often used by pro-Palestinian radicals that is seen as a call for ethnic cleansing of the Jewish and other non-Arab populations that live in Israel. She was eventually joined by her husband Charlie Rich, who, wearing a mask, defended her actions and pressed the Jewish resident Poupko to denounce Israel.

“We were very shaken,” Poupko said. “It turns out they are both very prominent members of the community who came to harass us because of our ‘stand with Israel sign.’”

In addition to her role with the city, Rich is also a local prominent singer who performed with elementary school students last month. Charlie Rich, her husband seen in the video, is an Associate Director at the Hopkins School.

“We’re trying to get people to speak up,” Charlie Rich told Poupko when asked why the couple was on the street outside his home. “We’re advocating for peace.”

“How? By harassing Jews?” Poupko asked. “Harassing Jews is peace? What the heck is wrong with you?”

Poupko accused Thabisa Rich of engaging in “Nazi behavior,” to which Charlie Rich responded, “well, you do have a sign that says you support Israel.”

Thabisa Rich encouraged others to come back to the street with her during a livestream after she left the scene.

“You tell me when you want to come back and ask for a ceasefire and ask for this people to stop their hate because they think that they are white and privileged and that they think that their religion is superior than the rest,” she stated. “I need people to show up to this very same street. We need to find a time to come back and show up in numbers and say no, enough is enough.”

“America is a country full of hate and racism and people need to just be honest and understand that is just what it is,” she said.

Poupko said the mayor called him on Monday over concern about the incident.

“The reason he called is because there are many Jews in the neighborhood, and many were very shaken and felt targeted,” Poupko said, adding that his family recently moved to New Haven and had their first pro-Israel sign stolen last month.

Thabisa Rich Facebook posts...Thabisa Rich invoked anti-Semitic tropes about Jewish power and said she would not condemn the terrorist group Hamas in now-deleted posts to her Facebook.

Since Hamas’s October 7, massacre of over 1,000 Israelis, Rich has frequently commented on the war, including stating on February 3 that she does “not condemn Hamas.”

On November 20, she voiced her frustration with people who are not speaking up about the war by invoking anti-Semitic tropes about Jewish money and power.

“Your silence is starting to signify complacency,” she wrote. “I promise I understand that some of y’all have your pockets lined with bosses who are Jewish.”

During the Super Bowl on Sunday, Rich said she was “sick of these Jew focused ads [sic].”

“We have been witnessing Jewish folks inflicting hate,” she said in another post the same day. “It’s not made up.”

Thabisa Rich Facebook posts about America...Thabisa Rich, who often discusses her status as an immigrant, had multiple now-deleted posts to her Facebook about her disdain for the United States.

In multiple posts to her Facebook she expresses her disdain for America, despite living in the country as an immigrant from South Africa, including calling the U.S. “Amerikkka” and claiming it is run by “DICKtators.”

She commented on the situation with Poupko as well, stating that she was “insulted and intimidated by the jewish family (that just moved in 3 months ago) [sic].”

“She wrote on social media she is being harassed by a Jewish family when she is the one who showed up with a megaphone in front of my house,” Poupko said.

Rich did not respond to a request for comment.


TOPICS: Government; Hamas; Israel; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: blacknazi; newhaven
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

1 posted on 02/16/2024 9:46:45 AM PST by Red Badger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SJackson; Jewbacca; Ezekiel

Ping!................


2 posted on 02/16/2024 9:47:45 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: matt04; SamAdams76; cgbg

Ugh...


3 posted on 02/16/2024 9:48:57 AM PST by nutmeg (FJB)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Grab the popcorn.

Maybe New Haven can give the local Jews yellow stars to wear.

The interesting question is how many New Haven Jews would agree to wear the stars.


4 posted on 02/16/2024 9:50:50 AM PST by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
"Thabisa Rich"

Well, on the bright side, so often their names will tell you everything you need to know about the person, and you don't have to go looking for a photo.

5 posted on 02/16/2024 9:53:46 AM PST by LegendHasIt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LegendHasIt

In Connecticut cities it is always them—you never have to look.


6 posted on 02/16/2024 9:54:53 AM PST by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

The problem is this individual is high up on the protected class list. Black, female, and government employee. She may be higher given who she sleeps with.


7 posted on 02/16/2024 9:55:06 AM PST by alternatives?
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I’ve seen this play before. It starts with written threats, moves to harassment in the streets. Broken glass is coming and then boycotts of stores. Restaurants, shops and hotels get restricted. It doesn’t end well.

I am neither but I’d much prefer Jews to muslims. I don’t recall any Jewish people flying airplanes into buildings or beheading anyone.

I’m guessing in New Haven the rabble are just being influenced by Yale.


8 posted on 02/16/2024 9:57:14 AM PST by muir_redwoods (Freedom isn't free, liberty isn't liberal and you'll never find anything Right on the Left)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

They say she is an immigrant. A legal immigrant or an invader?

Some people really feel empowered. How long before one of us could do this without repercussions?


9 posted on 02/16/2024 9:59:04 AM PST by ladyjane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

“She wrote on social media she is being harassed by a Jewish family when she is the one who showed up with a megaphone in front of my house,”


This is so typical of the left. They turn everything upside down. Show up at someone’s home with a megaphone and complain that you are being harassed. Break into a neighborhood with a mob and arrest homeowners who dare to confront you. Claim abortion is ‘reproductive health’. Demand feminine hygiene products in men’s restrooms and say with a straight face than men can give birth.


10 posted on 02/16/2024 10:01:03 AM PST by hanamizu ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

“Hate Crime” when anyone else does this.


11 posted on 02/16/2024 10:02:25 AM PST by outofsalt (If history teaches us anything, it's that history rarely teaches anything.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I went outside and confronted her for protesting outside a private Jewish house when a car stopped and a masked man joined her.”


Interesting. She is alone in the protest, not a crowd. Who is pushing her buttons?


12 posted on 02/16/2024 10:03:00 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
Your wages paid to you for the work your employer requires you do does not include your political opinions.

Danger!

13 posted on 02/16/2024 10:03:33 AM PST by blackdog ((Z28.310) Be careful what you say. Your refrigerator may be listening & reporting you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
Rich wiped her personal Facebook page where she posted video of her activism after The Daily Wire contacted her.

Ummmm, no.

14 posted on 02/16/2024 10:06:47 AM PST by mykroar ("It's Not the Nature of the Evidence; It's the Seriousness of the Charge." - El Rushbo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

She is an immigrant from South Africa.
Since she finds the US so distasteful, she should be deported forthwith.


15 posted on 02/16/2024 10:07:08 AM PST by Blueway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
What an incredibly stupid, racist, subhuman animal this "Rich" hominid is. What is even more frightening is that it got sufficient votes in this city to become mayor. It is none of its business what sign Rabbi Poupko has in his yard, and I am sure it violated his right of free speech. Instead of ululating about the sign and spewing lamestream media lies over a megaphone, this creature should be warming a seat in a jail cell.
16 posted on 02/16/2024 10:07:29 AM PST by EinNYC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

The megaphone was probably government property.


17 posted on 02/16/2024 10:07:36 AM PST by Track9 (Matches for sale.. get your matches!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

(203) 946-7664

https://www.newhavenct.gov/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/930/70?sortn=SPhone&npage=6&sortd=desc


18 posted on 02/16/2024 10:08:38 AM PST by God luvs America (63.5 million pay no income tax and vote for DemoKrats...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

There should be a demonstration in front of her house of people singing “The Horst Weasel Song”.

Ever notice that Leftists all vomit up the same talking points, almost word for word?


19 posted on 02/16/2024 10:09:40 AM PST by Southside_Chicago_Republican (The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ladyjane
They say she is an immigrant. A legal immigrant or an invader?

Legal or not if she is not a citizen, deport her racist, Jew-hating ass.

20 posted on 02/16/2024 10:33:32 AM PST by Freedumb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson