Investigation Continues Into Stoneham Swastika Incident

STONEHAM, MA — Stoneham Police are still encouraging community members to reach out as of this week with any information on an incident last week where a resident found swastikas in their front yard, according to a police spokesperson.

Contacted on Tuesday, the spokesperson said the police did not currently have any additional information to share publicly regarding this situation. Any community members who may have information for police, though, can contact police at 781-438-1215.

Police said on Tuesday of last week that a resident on Whittemore Lane in town had found pieces of paper cut into the shape of swastikas on their lawn. The swastikas had hateful language written on them, according to police.

READ: Swastikas Found On Lawn Prompt Stoneham Police Investigation

Police said they did not believe the incident was random, with Police Chief James McIntyre seperately telling NBC Boston that police were investigating the situation as a “hateful incident.”

Reaction to this incident came throughout last week, with elected officials and area groups joining in their condemnation.

“We must stand with Jewish community members to ensure they are protected against these hateful acts,” State Sen. Jason Lewis said in a statement.

Lewis said he was “deeply troubled and saddened” to hear about the swastikas and written messages, saying he had been in touch with Stoneham officials regarding the situation.

Congresswoman Katherine Clark, whose district includes Stoneham, called the swastikas “a chilling reminder of the anti-Semitism proliferating in the Commonwealth and our nation.”

"If we are going to heal the division in this country, we must stand together against hate in all forms and those who promote it," she said.

Next to Stoneham, in neighboring Malden, Mayor Gary Christenson addressed local and national incidents of antisemitism on Friday of last week, calling them a “call to action.”

“Although these recent incidents took place outside of Malden, we know that anti-Jewish sentiments and actions have no borders,” he said.

Christenson said city officials had been in touch with area Jewish congregations and community leaders to offer support.

He continued, saying Malden Police would help increase “safety measures” around Jewish congregations and the city’s upcoming Hanukkah Celebration.

Christenson further called on community members to do their part to reject antisemitism and show solidarity.

Officials and advocates have noted a rise in documented antisemitic incidents in recent years and months, with the Anti Defamation League recently reporting a 42% increase in incidents in New England in 2021.

Back in Stoneham, and beyond individual area politicians, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Stoneham and Wakefield last week announced as part of their own reaction statement that they would partner with the Waltham-based Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Boston “to expand a letter writing to holocaust survivors program.”

“Our hope is that by educating our youth about the horrors of antisemitism and what it could lead to; they will create a better future for people of all faiths,” clubs personnel wrote.