White woman charged with hate crime for spitting on Black woman during protest may have charges dismissed
A white woman who was accused of spitting on a Black female activist at a protest at the Hartford Capitol building was granted special probation, even as prosecutors continue to pursue a hate crime charge.
On Wednesday, Yuliya Gilshteyn, 45, was handed a special probation program known as accelerate rehabilitation. Along with her probation, Gilshteyn was ordered to complete 100 hours of anti-hate education over the course of two years.
Should she complete the program, the felony hate crime of intimidation due to bias, will be dismissed, according to the Hartford Courant.
In a video from Jan. 6, Gilshteyn was captured screaming “all lives matter” before spitting on Keren Prescott, an activist and founder of Power Up Manchester, who was there as a counterprotester. At the time of the protests, new Connecticut state lawmakers were being sworn in.
Capitol police quickly arrested Gilshteyn and charged her with breach of peace before State Attorney Sharmese Walcott got involved and upgraded the charges to a hate crime, and others including third-degree attempt to commit assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a child, court documents said.
During her hearing, Gilshteyn apologized, calling her actions, “completely out of character.” Prescott, who was in the courtroom along with two dozen other activists were extremely displeased with the outcome.
“This is the epitome of white privilege,” Prescott said, with tears in her eyes. “When she attacked me and the police didn’t believe me, that was white privilege. When the police held me back and she was led away, that was white privilege ... The fact she was in here today and didn’t even get a slap on the wrist, that is white privilege.
“What is she going to learn walking away from this unscathed? What the judge did today was egregious and dangerous and it sets the tone for the next time,” she continued.
Hartford Superior Court Judge Shelia M. Prats said she understood that the circumstances surrounding the case were overtly political, but added that she didn’t want her ruling to send any political messages. She also said that emotional testimony from Prescott about the incident did not disqualify Gilshteyn from taking part in the rehabilitation program.
“It is serious. It is serious to you, it’s serious to this moment we’re in,” Prats said. “It’s despicable ... I don’t believe [Gilshteyn] 100%, because if all life mattered, she wouldn’t do that to you.”
Walcott was also disappointed in the outcome.
“It is the most foul thing I have ever seen,” Walcott said. “It was absolutely disgusting ... it was unprovoked, it was uncalled for. I just cannot as I sit here right now say this defendant has shown over the past six months that she is committed to reeducating herself.”
