String of antisemitic incidents upsets Newton
Police ask for public’s help amid thefts, vandalism
After more than 100 posters of people taken hostage by Hamas were defaced over the weekend, police in Newton said Monday they are investigating a series of previous incidents in which “We Stand with Israel” signs were vandalized or stolen.
The first incident occurred on Feb. 22, when a “We Stand with Israel” sign was stolen from the front porch of a home on Columbus Street. On Feb. 27, a sign outside of a home on Beacon Street was defaced with red paint. On March 6, the same sign was vandalized, this time with a sticker that read, “Bombing Kids is Not Self-Defense.” And on March 7, two more “We Stand with Israel” signs were defaced with stickers bearing that same slogan, police wrote on Facebook.
Police said they are also investigating an incident on Hillside Road on March 12, when a family came home to find that a rock had been thrown through a window of their side door, according to Lieutenant Amanda Henrickson, a spokesperson for the Newton Police Department.
“The window had a sign displayed in the window that read ‘Boston Strong, Israel Strong,’” Henrickson said. “The incident is under investigation. There are no suspects at this time.”
On March 17, more than 100 posters of men, women, and children taken hostage by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attack against Israel were vandalized. The posters, which were displayed in front of a Newton couple’s home, were defaced with black spray paint and some were torn to shreds. The vandalism, which occurred around 7 or 8 a.m., is being investigated as a hate crime, police said.
Police said they are also adding extra patrols and asking residents to check their security cameras and to “remain vigilant.” “If you ‘see something, say something’ and report it immediately to Newton Police,” they said.
Police Chief John Carmichael urged anyone with information about the incidents to call the Police Department’s tip line at 617-796-2121.
“Bias, hatred and targeting those for their personal beliefs can not and will not be tolerated by the Newton Police Department,” Carmichael wrote on Facebook.