Arlington Human Rights Commission to Host Community Discussion in Response to Hate Incidents

ARLINGTON, MA—The Arlington Human Rights Commission will be holding a community discussion during its next meeting regarding recent hate incidents which have occurred in town.

Recently, Police have found swastikas which were spray-painted on a black family's garage door "just a few days ago." There were also two separate incidents of racist and anti-Semitic graffiti at Ottoson Middle School; the vandalism of a Black Lives Matter banner at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church; and an unsolicited mailing of KKK material to someone's home.

“As members of the Arlington community, we offer our unconditional support and solidarity to anyone who has been a victim of racism or anti-Semitism. We are greatly disturbed by these recent events, and we assure you that we will not tolerate hateful acts in our town," wrote the AHRC and the Arlington Police Department in a joint statement.

The discussion will take place on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Jefferson Cutter House located at 611 Massachusetts Ave. in the lower level conference room.

"APD and AHRC are committed to creating an atmosphere where everyone in Arlington feels safe and supported," the statement read. "All of us function best when living without fear of violence, discrimination, exclusion, or humiliation. Our children, families, businesses, and the community as a whole are hurt by hateful acts against anyone based on race, color, religious views, national origin, sex, gender identity, citizenship, age, ancestry, family/marital status, sexual orientation, disability, source of income or military status."