East End nonprofit forced to cancel event following racist threat phoned in to office
The difficult decision to cancel its second annual Pearls of Wisdom event, originally scheduled for March 22, was made on Tuesday.
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The Butterfly Effect Project has been forced to cancel an event after the nonprofit says it got a racist phone call threatening attendees.
The difficult decision to cancel its second annual Pearls of Wisdom event, originally scheduled for March 22, was made on Tuesday.
Butterfly Effect Project found and executive director Tijuana Fulford says the phone call was made by an anonymous caller to their Riverhead office.
News 12 wants to warn you the language the group says was used in the threat is disturbing.
"Twelve monkeys jumping on the bed. While you guys are celebrating in the N-word church eating bananas, you might have a sweeter tank when you come outside and some slashed tires,” said Fulford. "It’s putting the lives of people in jeopardy, in danger.”
The event brings together women from all ages in the community for one main goal.
"The goal is to bring 12 women out, and each woman has three minutes to give advice to our next generation,” she said.
This latest incident comes after the nonprofit received other racist and hate-fueled speech on its social media at the end of February.
"We're responsible for the lives of children and for the community at large,” said Fulford. “When we host an event, we want to ensure that everyone feels safe and secure at this event."
Butterfly Effect Project's grants and communication director Brienne Ahearn says they worry about how this could escalate without someone stepping in to tamper the hate.
"How are we stamping out this type of behavior? What are we doing as a community? What is law enforcement doing? How are our electeds responding,” she said.
Programming operations director Caroline Nadeau says this is a call for the community to help them stand up against this hate and bigotry.
"Come out and see what we're about because I think there is a huge misconception about who we represent and who we create these opportunities for,” she said. “Because it is [for] the whole community, and the future of our community."
Riverhead police contacted the nonprofit this afternoon after News 12 called earlier Thursday.
Police told the nonprofit that officers would increase patrols and make sure they have a heavier police presence during the nonprofit’s programming.
