Stamford MP Anabel Figueroa speaks out after anti-Semitic incident

Florida House Representative Anabel Figueroa is defending herself after anti-Semitic comments she made about her opponent in the run-up to this month's Democratic primary – a primary she lost.

In a video of her remarks in a Spanish-language interview, she said: “We cannot allow a person of Jewish origin to represent our community. That is impossible.”

In an interview with Connecticut Public, Figueroa said her comments were taken out of context and used for political purposes.

Figueroa said her intention was to emphasize the need to have someone in elected office who understands the needs of Stamford's large Latino community.

“My community is growing rapidly and it needs someone who really understands its problems – not just linguistically, but economically as well,” she said.

She said her intention was to address candidate Jonathan Jacobson's ethnic background, not his religion.

“When I used that word, I was referring to his ethnicity, not his religion or the allegations against me. Just as you would refer to someone as Puerto Rican or Salvadoran, that was my intention,” she said.

Figueroa's comments about Jacobson drew strong condemnation from many in Stamford, including elected officials and members of the local Jewish and Latino communities.

[RELATED: Anabel Figueroa loses Stamford primary after antisemitism incident]

Figueroa has apologized for the comments.

The past week has been trying for Figueroa, but it has been complicated for others in Stamford, too. Latinos say Figueroa's departure means Latino underrepresentation. And the Jewish community, already facing a rise in anti-Semitic attacks, is grappling with Figueroa's comments.

Rabbi Daniel Cohen of Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford, who met with Figueroa, acknowledged that the situation is complex.

“Anti-Semitism is on the rise, so people's radars are on high alert,” he said. “But I also think that when the opportunity presents itself for someone to acknowledge that maybe they didn't know what they said and apologize for what they said, we should try not to dig for the dirt in people, but to dig for the gold and find a way to build bridges.”

The consequences

News of the controversial video was widely shared on August 13, the day of the primary election.

Figueroa, who has represented the 8th District in the Stamford House of Representatives for over 20 years, claims the timing of the controversy was a deliberate move by Mayor Caroline Simmons and the Democratic City Committee (DCC) to sabotage her re-election campaign.

Representatives for Simmons and DCC did not respond to requests for comment.

Simmons said earlier this month that she strongly condemned Figueroa's comments and said that type of language “will not be tolerated” in Stamford.

“One of our city's greatest strengths is our diversity and such divisive language has no place in our political discourse or our community,” Simmons said in a statement. “Words matter and as elected officials we must uphold a higher standard of integrity that earns the public's respect and trust, and there must be accountability for that behavior.”

The DCC board stated in early August that “the use of this blatant anti-Semitic and anti-democratic language is abhorrent and unacceptable, and runs counter to our shared values as democrats.”

Jacobson told Connecticut Public earlier this month that he condemned Figueroa's comments in the videos. He said her comments were “just unbelievably ignorant on many levels.”

“I categorically reject any claim that I am less qualified to hold a leadership position solely because of my race or gender, or that my religion makes me less qualified,” Jacobson told Connecticut Public.

Figueroa claims she became a target of her own DCC members for addressing ongoing problems in Stamford's public schools and unaffordable housing policies that exacerbated economic segregation. She says Democratic leaders in Stamford put their personal interests above the needs of the community.

“Of course my words were taken out of context and manipulated,” Figueroa said. “This whole situation was orchestrated by the mayor and the Democratic Party.”

Figueroa’s comments had significant personal and professional consequences.

Figueroa has resigned from her position in the Stamford House of Representatives and has been stripped of her committee appointments in the Connecticut legislature.

“They are now targeting me and also those who support me,” said Figueroa. “When will the democratic community, when will the mayor, when will they stop the harassment?”

The board of the Stamford Democratic City Committee is also reportedly planning to take action against its chairman, Jeff Curtis, who told the Stamford Advocate that the House members who signed a letter calling for Figueroa's resignation “put optics ahead of humanity toward a fellow human being.”

Figueroa said she was fired from her job at the hospital, where she worked as a unit coordinator for more than 20 years, the day after the video went viral. She attributes the firing to the backlash over her comments.

Figueroa is no longer at Norwalk Hospital, Nuvance Health spokeswoman Andrea Rynn confirmed.

Rynn said in a statement, “Norwalk Hospital and Nuvance Health value an inclusive work environment and the provision of culturally appropriate care. Contradictory behavior by our employees will not be tolerated.”

Figueroa said she has been subjected to numerous threats to her life and her family's safety through phone calls and messages. She said she declined an offer of protection from Capitol Police. She said her family will leave Stamford in the meantime.

Public clashes

On the day of the primary election, and the day many in Stamford first learned of Figueroa's comments, several members of the Simmons administration gathered for a protest outside Stamford High School, accusing Figueroa of anti-Semitism, according to Figueroa. Figueroa said she went to the protest to apologize to Jacobson, but was met with a hostile crowd.

“I thought these people were coming to lynch me,” she said.

Jacobson won the primary with over 60 percent of the vote.

A day after the election, it was revealed that a second video had been posted on social media on August 3. In it, Figueroa addressed members of the Latino community, saying, “Who better to represent us than someone from the same minority? But a Jew? Never.”

Simmons responded on social media.

“Enough is enough – this despicable and hateful language has no place in our city, especially when it comes from an elected official,” Simmons said.

A divided party

Some activists and residents in the Latino community have condemned Figueroa's comments about Jacobson.

In Stamford, a petition from some Latino Democrats is circulating that states: “We fully support the declared zero tolerance for hate, racism, prejudice and discrimination in any form.”

“The recent statements made by some members of the local Hispanic community, which have been widely reported in the press, do not represent us,” the petition states.

But Latino activists in Stamford say they are concerned about the lack of Latino representation in their city and across the state.

The Hispanic community is becoming a significant and growing presence in the city. According to CT Data Collaborative, about 30% of Stamford residents identify as Hispanic or Latino and 18% as Black. Over 40% of residents report speaking a language other than English at home, based on 2022 U.S. Census estimates.

Stamford activist Brenda Ortiz said Figueroa's comments were “poorly worded” and she was “ill-advised.” But, she added, the Spanish-language interview appeared to be an attempt to “cast her in a bad light.”

“We are often overlooked,” Ortiz said. “The wealthy and influential groups seem to support each other while our needs go unmet. Since Figueroa left, it feels like we are back to square one. Right now, there is no one to effectively represent us.”

Patricia Mendoza, a member of a Stamford nonprofit, said Stamford officials “seem to judge us without understanding our cultural differences. The situation with Anabel is an expression of that ignorance.”

Leonel Arenas, another Latino community activist in Stamford, expressed disappointment over Figueroa's departure from the city's House of Representatives.

“This is a big loss for us,” he said. “We had a position where we were heard, and now it's going to be harder to maintain that representation.”

State Rep. Minnie González has publicly expressed her support for Figueroa, claiming her words were taken out of context. González also alleges that the state Democratic Party has excluded Hispanic political leaders and those who do not align with the established party agenda from key positions.

“They refuse to support a Hispanic candidate and don't want us on the national ballot. It's time for us to make a decision – either we stay with the Democrats, who are not offering us anything, switch to the Republicans, or become independent,” González said. “Perhaps it will be the independent voters who will determine the next election.”

Arenas said that as a community organizer, members of the Latino community have told him that they have mixed feelings about the Figueroa incident, but are afraid that the same thing that happened to Figueroa could happen to them if they speak out.

“Some people are angry because they think what happened to her is unfair. Others unfortunately do not support her. [of Figueroa] due to internal divisions and rivalries within the Hispanic community. Some might be happy with their departure because they represent opposing interests,” Arenas said.

A Rabbi’s Perspective

Cohen, the Stamford rabbi, said that since he met Figueroa at the protest rally on primary day, she has been attending his synagogue to learn and understand the impact words can have on people's lives.

“In times of division, it is critical to highlight what unites us, not what divides us,” Cohen said. “By working together, we can overcome challenges and create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.”

Cohen advocates for political leadership to engage in constructive discussions and collaborate on initiatives to strengthen Stamford's unity.

“It's important for us to recognize that while misunderstandings may occur, our focus should be on coming together and working toward a better future for Stamford,” Cohen said.

This story was first published on August 22, 2024 by Connecticut Public.

Stamford MP Anabel Figueroa speaks out after anti-Semitic incident

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