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Stratford, Conn., deals with racial conflict

In 2006, a teenager and a councilman, both black, in Stratford, Conn., were arrested by a white police officer. The arrests sparked protests and angry town hall meetings because the councilman claims he saw the police officer hit the teenager during the arrest before being arrested himself for interfering.

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March 30, 2012

Young African American men, none of whom wanting to give his name, hang out on a corner in the south end of Stratford, Conn. The man calling himself "P," left, complained of continually receiving extra scrutiny from local police for the way they look and dress. In 2006, teenager Titasheen Mitchell and Councilman Alvin O'Neal, both black, were arrested by a white police officer, David Gugliotti. The arrests sparked protests and angry town hall meetings because O'Neal, who happened to be on the scene, claims he saw the police officer hit the teenager during the arrest before being arrested himself for interfering. The incident and its aftermath has been viewed by some as Stratford's Trayvon Martin case.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

From left: Siblings Carlos Ramos, 17, C, Sergio Colon Jr., 17, and Halona Colon, 15, make their way through their neighborhood in the south end of Stratford, Conn. Their father, Sergio Colon, Sr., said racism and racial profiling is still heavy in the town.

March 29, 2012

From left: Siblings Carlos Ramos, 17, C, Sergio Colon Jr., 17, and Halona Colon, 15, make their way through their neighborhood in the south end of Stratford, Conn. Their father, Sergio Colon, Sr., said racism and racial profiling is still heavy in the town.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

The scene where a 2006 arrest of a black teenage girl and a black councilman by a white police officer sparked angry protests in Stratford, Conn.

March 30, 2012

The scene where a 2006 arrest of a black teenage girl and a black councilman by a white police officer sparked angry protests in Stratford, Conn.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Alvin O'Neal, a former Stratford councilman who was arrested in 2006 for intervening in what he saw as the rough arrest of a 14-year-old black girl, is pictured in the area of south Stratford where the 2006 arrests took place.

March 29, 2012

Alvin O'Neal, a former Stratford councilman who was arrested in 2006 for intervening in what he saw as the rough arrest of a 14-year-old black girl, is pictured in the area of south Stratford where the 2006 arrests took place.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Former mayor Jim Miron is pictured in front of Stratford’s city hall. Miron was mayor of the town during an incident that added to already existent racial tension in the city.

March 30, 2012

Former mayor Jim Miron is pictured in front of Stratford’s city hall. Miron was mayor of the town during an incident that added to already existent racial tension in the city.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Students, divided into dodgeball teams, take in the action of a school dodgeball tournament at Bunnell High School in Stratford. The high school, located on the town's predominantly white north end, racially integrates by busing in a mix of students from the south end of town.

March 30, 2012

Students, divided into dodgeball teams, take in the action of a school dodgeball tournament at Bunnell High School in Stratford. The high school, located on the town's predominantly white north end, racially integrates by busing in a mix of students from the south end of town.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Teammates and friends, from left, Jared Vasquez, 17, Fernando Cerezo, 18, and Rudy Bholanath, 17, react to the action of a dodgeball game at Bunnell High School.

March 30, 2012

Teammates and friends, from left, Jared Vasquez, 17, Fernando Cerezo, 18, and Rudy Bholanath, 17, react to the action of a dodgeball game at Bunnell High School.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A woman passes through downtown Stratford, Conn.

March 30, 2012

A woman passes through downtown Stratford, Conn.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Attendees prepare to hold a candlelight vigil after a prayer service demanding justice for Trayvon Martin's family at Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Bridgeport, Conn.

March 30, 2012

Attendees prepare to hold a candlelight vigil after a prayer service demanding justice for Trayvon Martin's family at Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Bridgeport, Conn.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Attendees prepare to hold a candlelight vigil after a prayer service demanding justice for Trayvon Martin's family at Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Bridgeport.

March 30, 2012

Attendees prepare to hold a candlelight vigil after a prayer service demanding justice for Trayvon Martin's family at Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Bridgeport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Donations for Trayvon Martin's family are collected at a prayer service demanding justice for Trayvon Martin's family at Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Bridgeport.

March 30, 2012

Donations for Trayvon Martin's family are collected at a prayer service demanding justice for Trayvon Martin's family at Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Bridgeport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Darryl Brown, an honor student at Southern Connecticut State University, gives an emotional speech during a prayer service demanding justice for Trayvon Martin's family at Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Bridgeport.

March 30, 2012

Darryl Brown, an honor student at Southern Connecticut State University, gives an emotional speech during a prayer service demanding justice for Trayvon Martin's family at Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Bridgeport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Theodore Jordan, 17, listens to the prayers, speeches, and sermons at a prayer service demanding justice for Trayvon Martin's family at Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Bridgeport.

March 30, 2012

Theodore Jordan, 17, listens to the prayers, speeches, and sermons at a prayer service demanding justice for Trayvon Martin's family at Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Bridgeport.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Arie Leaphart of Monroe, Conn., wears a hoodie at a prayer service demanding justice for Trayvon Martin's family at Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Bridgeport, Conn. 'Putting on the hoodie was to represents why we're here, for Trayvon because he got injustice. And he's still getting injustice because Zimmerman has not been arrested,' said Leaphart.

March 30, 2012

Arie Leaphart of Monroe, Conn., wears a hoodie at a prayer service demanding justice for Trayvon Martin's family at Walters Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Bridgeport, Conn. "Putting on the hoodie was to represents why we're here, for Trayvon because he got injustice. And he's still getting injustice because Zimmerman has not been arrested," said Leaphart.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Louis DeCilio, GOP registrar of voters, is pictured in his office in Stratford, Conn. After a 2006 incident where a local white police officer arrested a black teenager and a black city councilman, DeCelio refused to go to diversity training calling it “political correctness.”

March 30, 2012

Louis DeCilio, GOP registrar of voters, is pictured in his office in Stratford, Conn. After a 2006 incident where a local white police officer arrested a black teenager and a black city councilman, DeCelio refused to go to diversity training calling it “political correctness.”

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Patrick Ridenhour, the newly appointed police chief of Stratford, talks about the force's efforts to bridge communication gaps between the police department and the African-American community.

March 29, 2012

Patrick Ridenhour, the newly appointed police chief of Stratford, talks about the force's efforts to bridge communication gaps between the police department and the African-American community.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Both Victor Squire, 22, front, and Bryan Sneed, 21, feel they receive extra scrutiny from Stratford police because of the way they look and dress. 'We're automatically going to be under suspicion because of the way we look. Two Black men wearing hoodies and hats, we will get stopped. We could be going to work. We could be going to pick up the kids. It doesn't matter,' said Sneed. Added Squire, 'They know what the dress code is in the south end [of Stratford]. You're going to see hoodies. It's when you go to other parts of town that you have problems.'

March 29, 2012

Both Victor Squire, 22, front, and Bryan Sneed, 21, feel they receive extra scrutiny from Stratford police because of the way they look and dress. "We're automatically going to be under suspicion because of the way we look. Two Black men wearing hoodies and hats, we will get stopped. We could be going to work. We could be going to pick up the kids. It doesn't matter," said Sneed. Added Squire, "They know what the dress code is in the south end [of Stratford]. You're going to see hoodies. It's when you go to other parts of town that you have problems."

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Police officers — including Sgt Eric Lazaro, second from right — attend a community event in the south end of Stratford. The police department is diversifying its staff and trying to be a positive presence in the town.

March 30, 2012

Police officers — including Sgt Eric Lazaro, second from right — attend a community event in the south end of Stratford. The police department is diversifying its staff and trying to be a positive presence in the town.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Councilwoman Stephanie Philips, left, participates in a community event attended by town Mayor John Harkins, right, and other community leaders in Stratford, Conn.

March 30, 2012

Councilwoman Stephanie Philips, left, participates in a community event attended by town Mayor John Harkins, right, and other community leaders in Stratford, Conn.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

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