ACLU, NAACP Divided On Charge In Case Of Racist Snapchat Post

FAIRFIELD, CT — The American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP are in disagreement over whether a charge brought against a Fairfield teen who created a racist Snapchat post is unconstitutional or not strong enough.

The Fairfield Warde High School student was arrested and charged with ridicule on account of creed, religion, color, denomination, nationality or race after he posted a photo of a classmate that was taken without the student’s knowledge and overlaid the picture with text that included a racial slur, police said.

The ACLU of Connecticut is arguing the charge restricts freedom of speech and is unconstitutional, according to the Associated Press.

“Having racist ideas or sharing racist ideas is something that we actually protect,” Emerson Sykes, a senior staff attorney with the national chapter of the ACLU, told the AP. “Even if that viewpoint is offensive, even if it’s deplorable, we don’t want the government making the call about what’s OK to say and think and what is not. But we have limitations on that right.”

The NAACP, on the other hand, feels the charges against the teen should be stronger. In addition to the ridicule count, the 16-year-old is also charged with second-degree breach of peace.

“They’re not strong enough,” said the Rev. D. Stanley Lord, president of the Greater Bridgeport NAACP.

Lord said his stance is shared by the state and national offices of the NAACP.

A Fairfield police spokesman said the legality of the arrest would be determined in court.

“I can’t debate the legality of the arrest … that’s for the court system to do,” Lt. Antonio Granata said. “At the time of the arrest, police officers believed they had probable cause.”

In addition to facing criminal charges in connection with the May 7 incident, the student is being disciplined in accordance with Board of Education policy. The school district does not disclose disciplinary actions, but Judith Medor, who is the mother of the classmate who was pictured in the Snapchat post, said she was told that the teen who created the post would not return to Warde.

The weekend after Judith’s son, Jamar Medor, was targeted, Jamar's brother, Jake Medor, was called a racial slur in a verbal attack involving Fairfield Ludlowe High School students, according to Judith.

Police are investigating the second incident, and the school district has said appropriate actions were taken internally.