Hamden Halloween Display Sparks National Debate on Racist Symbols

A Halloween display in Hamden, Connecticut, called "The Asylum for the Criminally Insane," has sparked controversy for its use of nooses, gallows, barbed wire, and mannequin guards, evoking painful historical imagery such as Jim Crow-era lynchings and Nazi concentration camps. The display, owned by Eric Andrewsen, aims to entertain visitors and raise money for charity, specifically the Hamden Police Department's Police Activity League. Despite complaints from the NAACP, town leaders, and some residents who find the display offensive and insensitive, particularly to Black and mental health communities, Andrewsen has refused to remove or alter it. Mayor Lauren Garrett acknowledged the right to creative expression but urged sensitivity, stating, "When you know better, you can do better," though she recognized that it is private property and freedom of expression must be respected. The controversy has led to discussions with neighboring Temple Beth synagogue and community leaders, with some viewing the situation as a lesson in unintended consequences and a learning opportunity. Others in the community continue to appreciate the display as a Halloween tradition, highlighting the divide between differing perspectives on the display's impact.