The Hills Have Eyes-Naugatuck’s small-town racism

Part 2

By Grant Miller

U.S. Route 8 from the Naugatuck State Forest (Morrow Long)

Drive north up U.S. Route 8 past Exit 23, and you will pass by the mountains in the Naugatuck State Forest. They may not be as large as the Rocky or Smoky Mountains, but they are big enough to tower over the highway and look down upon any driver who intends to pass like doormen demanding proof that you belong there. They are an ominous presence at night, casting a blanket shadow over the landscape.

In autumn, the leaves on the mountains change from a persistent, plush green to a diverse array of russet, amber, and gold that shimmers in the sunlight. They are the embodiment of the colorful New England Fall plumage that the region is known for, and they provide a scenic welcome into the hills of Naugatuck.

But according to those who grew up in the town, the autumn leaves are the only acceptable mixture of color there. Mixing people is another story entirely.

Carissa Walters drives her two children, Zach and Alanna, to the Boston Science Museum. (Carissa Walters)

After Naugatuck police officer Jasen Markette called Carissa Walters a “mud shark” for having a biracial son in mid-August, his actions fell under close scrutiny. The Naugatuck Police Department has made no…