NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The New Haven city employee who was seen harassing a local rabbi while calling for a ceasefire in Gaza in a now-viral video was disciplined for her actions.
Thabisa Rich, who serves as a community engagement coordinator for the City Department of Arts, Culture, and Tourism, was seen on video walking up and down Knollwood Dr. with a megaphone during a protest calling for a ceasefire on Feb. 11.
Rabbi Elchanan Poupko, who lives on that street and has a sign on his front lawn supporting Israel, said Rich and other protestors approached his house. In the video, Poupko can be seen confronting Rich and another man she’s with.
“She stood in front of my house with a megaphone and started screaming. What’s that, if not Nazi behavior,” Poupko said in the video at one point.
To which the male standing next to a car on the street said, “Well you do have a sign that says you support Israel.”
The back-and-forth quickly escalated to a verbal argument with the marchers and Poupko’s family eventually called the police. They determined no crime was committed, as it is legal for people to exercise their right to free speech.
“This is not about being Jewish or not Jewish, it’s about being neighborly. It’s about making sure that a neighborhood is a place where everyone is welcome. Where people are not targeted because of their opinions or their identity,” Poupko told FOX61 News previously.
After the video went viral, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said in a statement that while there is an appropriate time, place and manner to express views surrounding the war between Israel and Hamas, “Rich exercised extremely poor judgment in this regard.”
“In addition, several of her personal statements and social media posts are incredibly offensive to our Jewish residents and the wider New Haven community,” he said, adding the city was actively reviewing the incident.
On Monday, Elicker’s office said Rich was reprimanded for violating the city’s Code of Conduct because of her actions on Feb. 11 and the statements made on social media. He said the reprimand also included a coaching statement and correction action requirements, including the need to attend cultural sensitivity training.
Elicker’s office said Rich’s failure to adhere to the city’s Code of Conduct in the future may result in further disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
The letter of reprimand to Rich was issued on Feb. 22 and signed by all parties on Feb. 29 and March 1. The letter can be read here.
“City employees must exercise professionalism, respect, and discretion in all their interactions with New Haven residents and the community,” Elicker said in a statement, adding: “While city employees can have different and strongly held views on important issues, there is an appropriate time, place, and manner in which to express them – and incidents and statements of this nature will not be tolerated. New Haven is a welcoming community for all residents.”
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