Recently, an African-American man in Vermont was flagged down while driving in his car on the highway, and he was then verbally threatened and abused by being told that he “did not belong” in the state, before being asked to leave, according to a statement from the state police.
During the May 8 incident, the unknown man, who was driving with his 11-year-old son in the car that had New York license plates near their home in Hartford. Two vehicles hailed him on the highway and he stopped, thinking they were in need of assistance. Then, a white man stepped out of one of the cars and harassed him that he wasn’t wanted in Vermont. The African-American man was able to quell the verbal assault without a physical confrontation, but officials say it was still a disturbing scene.
“Making this situation in Hartford even more disturbing was the racial undertone used during this exchange with the individual who is a person of color,” Vermont Governor Phil Scott said this on Wednesday, according to CNN. “So let me be very clear, this is not acceptable and it can’t be tolerated and there’s no excuse for it.”
The Police officials said the victim’s name is being withheld for security reasons and safety for he and his family.
Meanwhile, investigation is already in progress to search for the individuals involved in the confrontation incident. But currently, the vehicles’ descriptions and the destinations of the ones caught up with the act are yet to be known.
“Vermont is and must continue to be a state where visitors feel welcome, regardless of who they are, what they look like or where they come from, even during this pandemic,” police said in their news release. “Hate speech and threats are disturbing, unacceptable and have no place in Vermont.”
As this is a racial assault, the ideals and values of African descents will always stand firm because black lives matter, and there is a unique beauty in being black skinned.
