By Stacey Dresner

STAMFORD – A homeless man has been arrested and charged with a hate crime after using his own feces to smear a swastika and Star of David onto a window at the Rich Forum in Stamford last week.

According to the Stamford Police, the accused, Robin Spearman, is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.

“We are relieved to hear that a suspect is in custody and are grateful to the police for their work,” said Lauren Steinberg, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Stamford, New Canaan and Darien. “We also applaud the work of the Connecticut legislature for passing the strongest hate crimes legislation in the country earlier this month – legislation that clearly demonstrates that bigotry and hatred are not tolerated here.”

On June 6, the Connecticut legislature unanimously passed HB 5743, a bill that makes any hate crime an automatic felony rather than a misdemeanor; adds violence or threats based on someone’s gender as hate crimes’ and increases penalties for threats against certain facilities such as religious institutions and day cares.

In response to the vandalism, the JCRC circulated a statement “that serves as a reminder to Stamford and neighboring communities that it is the duty of all engaged citizens to stand up to hate together,” Steinberg said.

The statement reads:

“We are appalled to learn that a swastika and Star of David were found drawn outside the Rich Forum. Anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry have no place in our community.

We are grateful for and encourage the efforts of the Stamford Police Department to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure accountability.

Our community is strongest when we stand together. As leaders and residents of Stamford and surrounding communities, we stand together as neighbors and commit ourselves to working against all forms of hatred.”

Signatories of the statement include Gov. Dannel Malloy; Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman; U.S. and State Senators and Representatives; the Interfaith Council of Southwestern CT; rabbis and heads of Jewish schools in Stamford; and several other organizations.

Institutions and leaders not yet on the list can still be added by contacting Lauren Steinberg at the Jewish Community Relations Council.

The current list of signatories is as follows:

Governor Dannel Malloy

Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman

Mayor David Martin

Senator Richard Blumenthal

Senator Chris Murphy

Congressman Jim Himes

State Senator Carlo Leone

State Representative William Tong

State Representative Patricia Billie Miller

State Representative Dan Fox

State Representative Livvy Floren

State Representative Caroline Simmons

Mayor’s Multicultural Council of Stamford

The Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut

Ricky Arbron, President, United Jewish Federation

Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport

Reverend Dr. Duane Pederson, Pastor, St. John’s Lutheran Church

Reverend Todd Yonkman, First Congregational Church of Stamford

Reverend Dr. David R. Van Dyke, Pastor; Reverend Jennifer S. Davis, Associate Pastor; and

Rabbi Philip E. Schechter, Rabbi in Residence, First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Stamford Islamic Center

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Temple Beth El

Rabbi Eli Kohl, Young Israel of Stamford

Rabbi Daniel Cohen, Congregation Agudath Sholom

Rabbi Moshe and Leah Shemtov, Chabad of Stamford

Rabbi Mark Golub, The Chavura

Rabbi Jay TelRav, Temple Sinai

Catalina Horack, Executive Director, Building 1 Community

Nora Anderson, Head of School, Carmel Academy

Jacqueline Herman, Head of School, BiCultural Day School

Rabbi Elisha Paul, Head of School, Jewish High School of CT

Father Joseph Gill, Spiritual Advisor, Trinity Catholic High School