Statement Hateful Incident in Darby, PA

A public statement from the UDTJ Community Center for BIPOC, LGBTQQIA+, and Youth regarding the recent hate crime in Darby Township.

UDTJ is disgusted by the recent incident involving Darby Township business owner John Romano, who has been criminally charged with ethnic intimidation, making terroristic threats, and harassment. The use of racial slurs and hateful language, as directed toward Tihiria Schuler and the broader Black community, is abhorrent and unacceptable.

We condemn, in the strongest terms, the dehumanizing and racist comments made during this altercation that perpetuate the systemic racism and hostility that marginalized communities face daily.

This incident is a stark reminder of the ongoing work to combat racism and the need for increased vigilance and action by our elected officials. UDTJ stands in solidarity with Tihiria Schuler and the entire Black community. We reaffirm our commitment to supporting those impacted by hate and for advocating for justice, equity, and meaningful change in our communities.

These issues are not unique. Unfortunately, many companies and businesses are more than happy to take Black dollars but won’t stand for Black people. This is all too common and normalized in DelCo, from how businesses close for Black students to how we’re always too ready to fund another cop before a recreational program. Enough is enough. 

Although we were not able to attend, we appreciate the local leaders, organizations, and residents who showed up to the Delaware County Black Caucus's @delcoblackcaucus Press conference the other day to condemn acts of hate and to work together to dismantle the systems of inequality and racism. Our whole community deserves better, and we must collectively take action against racism and hate in all forms.

Let us remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice and accountability.

https://myspiritnews.com/.../featured.../no-place-for-hate/

In solidarity,

UDTJ