Charlie Sisitsky, the mayor of Framingham, Mass., denounced “hateful vandalism” found on playground equipment at Hemenway Elementary School, a public school some 20 miles west of Boston, in the “strongest terms.”
“Acts of antisemitism and hate have no place in Framingham. Sadly, incidents of antisemitism are on the rise across the commonwealth, but our city stands united against intolerance in all forms,” the mayor said on Monday.
Susan Petroni, the city’s public information officer, told JNS that a swastika was found spray-painted on a bench outside the public school. “Our police department is actively investigating it,” she said.
Petroni told JNS that the mayor’s office has “been in touch with community leaders and the interfaith clergy leaders.”
Bob Tremblay, superintendent of Framingham Public Schools, wrote to families about the “hateful symbol” that is “in direct opposition to the core values of respect, inclusion and belonging that we stand for as a district,” according to Petroni.
The vandalism was “deeply hurtful, particularly to members of our Jewish community” and was “immediately reported” to law enforcement, the superintendent said.
