A white New Fairfield woman has now been charged with a hate crime and three other offenses after she spat on a Black woman during a Black Lives Matter protest at the state Capitol in January.
Yuliya Gilshteryn, 44, who was at the Capitol as lawmakers were sworn in to begin the 2021 legislative session on Jan. 6, was initially only charged with breach of peace.
But Hartford State’s Attorney Sharmese Walcott said Thursday Gilshteryn’s charges have been upgraded to include deprivation of rights (a hate crime statute), third-degree criminal attempt to commit assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a child charges.