Cambridge Menorah Vandalism An Act Of Hate: Mayor

CAMBRIDGE, MA— Shortly after two witnesses told a passerby that they just saw a man walk over and push over the menorah on the Cambridge Common lit for the first night of Hanukkah, a group of about five people gathered Sunday afternoon to help lift it back into place.

Now police are investigating whether the act of vandalism was more than that.

"We're looking into the possibility of it being a hate crime," said Police spokesperson Jeremy Warnick. The suspect is described as a man wearing all black and with a black bicycle.

Cambridge Mayor Marc McGovern said although he's still waiting on the official police investigation, he views it as an act of hate.

"What might otherwise be described as a random act of violence fits into a chilling and all-too intentional pattern of hatred and bias-motivated violence that is visible at the national and local level," said McGovern in a statement.

"Even more disturbing, national leaders and outlets serve as platforms for supremacist and nativist ideas, whether passively or actively. That their rhetoric gives way to violent acts is predictable and unacceptable. Little more than a month has passed since myself and other leaders from Cambridge’s municipal and faith communities came together in vigil for the victims of the shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. We vowed then to speak out when we see racism and anti-Semitism, and to work towards the goals of peace and social justice as a community united," he said.

The vandalism comes just after a menorah was stolen from a temple in Brookline >> Menorah From Brookline Temple Found In West Roxbury. There were nine crimes categorized as hate crimes reported in Cambridge in 2017, which is a return closer to average after seeing a large spike in 2016. There have been fluctuations in recent years, ranging from a low of seven in 2010 to a high of 25 in 2016, with the average across the past 10 years being 13, according to police data.

Mayor McGovern said the vandalism does not represent Cambridge, but the response, "taking action with a commitment to kindness and community that did not need to be spoken and comes naturally from our neighbors," does.

Lilian Milagros took a video of a group of strangers coming together to help put the menorah back in place:

Hanukkah began Sunday evening Dec. 2 and will go until the evening of Monday, Dec. 10. It's the eight day Jewish holiday marking a rededication to a holy temple. The "festival of lights" is celebrated with a nightly lighting of a menorah and special prayers.

Police ask anyone with information related to the vandalism or the suspect to call Cambridge Police at 617-349-3300.

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Photo credit: Shutterstock