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Pittsfield Woman Ordered to Stop Harassing Neighbors05:37PM / Wednesday, March 18, 2009
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city woman has been ordered to leave her neighbors alone after the state attorney general obtained a civil rights injunction against her on Wednesday.
Tammy L. Haddad has allegedly been engaged in a campaign of racial harassment and intimidation by regularly directing racial epithets and racist imagery against her black neighbors, according to a statement released by Attorney General Martha Coakley's office.
"All Massachusetts residents are entitled to live in their homes and raise their families free from the type of bias-motivated harassment and intimidation alleged in this case," said Coakley. "Victims and their communities suffer when racial harassment goes unchecked, and this type of behavior will not be tolerated."
The order, issued Wednesday by Berkshire Superior Court Judge John A. Agostini, prohibits Haddad from threatening, intimidating or coercing the victims, or anyone else in the state, on the basis of their actual or perceived race.
The order further prevents Haddad from knowingly coming within 20 feet of the victims and their family and or within 500 yards of the place of employment of the victims. A violation of the order is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and 2 1/2 years in a House of Correction or, if bodily injury results from such a violation, a $10,000 fine and up to 10 years in state prison.
According to the complaint, beginning in June 2008, Haddad filed baseless complaints with law enforcement agencies against one of the victims and repeatedly interfered with her neighbor's property. The commonwealth alleges that Haddad's bias-motivated acts significantly interfered with her neighbors' right to use and enjoy their home free from harassment and intimidation.
The attorney general's office is seeking relief under the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, which is commonly referred to as the hate crimes statute.
This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Laurie A. Frankl of the Civil Rights and Western Massachusetts divisions with the assistance of Susan DeVine of the Investigations Division. |
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