Concord Police Investigate Hate Speech Outside of Local Restaurant

CONCORD, MA — The Concord Police Department has investigated a report of Hate Street directed towards the Jewish Community outside of an Elm Street restaurant Saturday afternoon, according to an announcement from police.

According to the announcement, police received a report from a person who was at an Elm Street restaurant at 3 p.m. for a Bar Mitzvah. After leaving the reception at the restaurant, the person reporting the alleged speech noticed a man make derogatory comments about the Jewish people to another man.

“We have been closely watching events across the country and find this incident deeply disturbing.” Chief Joseph O’Connor said. “There is no place for hate in our community, and we take every report seriously. I encourage anyone with any concerns about potentially hateful or discriminatory speech or actions to call the Concord Police Department immediately.”

Police stated that investigations determined that the man who made the comments does not reside in the town.

“The Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council applauds the actions of those who reported this incident and supports the swift response of the Concord Police Department to this act of bigotry. We ask that everyone be vigilant in opposing hate speech and that all citizens actively and proudly oppose intolerance in all its forms,” wrote the Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council in a statement.

Rabbi Darby Jared Leigh of the Congregation Kerem Shalom also released a statement following the incident.

“Jewish tradition teaches us that words and human speech have the power to create and uplift as well as to tear down and destroy. We are cautioned to aspire to always use the gift of communication for good. The negative consequences of ‘Lashon Hara/evil speech’ often extend further than the speaker intends or imagines. While this particular incident of hate speech was thankfully only speech, we in the Jewish community see the tremendous destructive potential within it. We are so grateful to the Concord Police Department for responding quickly and with a great deal of sensitivity and compassion. We urge all of the citizens of our community to remain vigilant against such destructive hateful speech and look forward to working in partnership with the entire community to ensure that all minority groups feel safe.