Officials in Montgomery County, Maryland, are investigating a group of so-called “Zoom bombers” who interrupted a candidate forum meeting by hurling racial slurs at a city councilman.
County Executive Marc Elrich told reporters Thursday the government would look into the incident and promised whoever is responsible would be prosecuted.
“The people making these attacks ought to put their names on it if they’re so proud of what they’re doing and so proud of what they think,” Elrich said. “Own it. Let us know who you are. It’s embarrassing, and frankly, it’s disgusting.”
City Councilman Will Jawando was participating in an online forum Tuesday to discuss campaign finance and police reform when a group of anonymous users interrupted the stream, blasting music and shouting racial slurs and indiscernible comments.
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“Shut up, n*****,” one user repeatedly said.
Moderators of the forum, members of the group Progressive Legacy, were quick to remove the users from the call, noting the link was posted publicly, which may explain how they were able to join.
“Councilmember … we apologize for that,” one of the moderators said. “I think we’ve got the wrong person [here].”
A spokesperson for Progressive Legacy told the Washington Examiner in a message that the “Zoom bomb” consisted of four to five anonymous individuals who were each removed from the meeting within three minutes.
“We want to apologize to our guest speakers, members and other participants who were offended,” the group said in a statement. “Progressive Legacy remains committed to our work to support political candidates, laws and actions that advocate or implement social reform or new liberal ideas. We will continue to stand up and do what it takes to push ‘progressive thoughts’ and add to our legacy as voting residents of Maryland.”
Elrich said the incident would be “thoroughly investigated,” although county officials said they were unsure whether the county police department would take on the investigation.
“This is not where society should be in 2022. It is really disappointing that people feel this is an appropriate way to behave. I know this is not the first, and this is not the last time,” Elrich said. “There’s way too much of this stuff going on. You see it on Facebook, you see the side comments people make, and it just should not be that way. I don’t see how it’s not a hate incident, and I believe it’s going to be treated as one.”
Montgomery County Council members also responded Thursday, referring to the verbal attacks as “disgusting, racist comments and hate-filled obscenities.”
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“We denounce all forms of hate speech, harassment and racism, and condemn these racist attacks,” the council said in a statement. “Montgomery County residents and public employees, including elected officials, should be free to go about their daily lives and conduct their work without the fear of racist speech and harassment.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Jawando’s office but did not receive a response.
