A Danvers Call For Reflection After Antisemitic 9-11 Banner Display

DANVERS, MA — Danvers will hold a "community conversation" aimed at bringing residents together to "process, reflect and connect" after a group of 10 people in masks unfurled an antisemitic banner referencing 9-11 on the Route 114 bridge on Saturday.

The gathering will be Monday at 6 p.m. on the lawn at the Peabody Institute Library.

"We will open with remarks from community and faith leaders," town officials said. "This is an informal conversation. Folks are welcome to drop by or stay the entire time."

Officials said some chairs will be provided and that residents can also bring their own. The rain location will be inside Danvers High School.

Town officials called the banner — which displayed the false claim that Jews were responsible for the 2001 terrorist attacks on America — "hateful, antisemitic and discriminatory behavior" and said it was part of a "disgraceful propaganda" campaign in Danvers and other North Shore communities.

"Not only does this incident spread hate," town officials and leaders said in a joint statement on Monday. "But it perpetuates misinformation regarding 9/11. Groups like this also try to deny and obscure the brutal truth surrounding the atrocities committed against Jewish people, other marginalized groups, and their supporters during the Holocaust.

"Now, more than ever, we call on the community to reject toxic and deceitful messaging spread by these groups, to uplift one another, and to elevate the voices of those who have been harmed."

Select Board Chair Daniel Bennett, Committee for Human Rights and Inclusion Dutrochet Djoko, Director of Equity and Inclusion Jasmine Ramon, Police Chief Jamie Lovell and Town Manager Steve Bartha signed the joint statement.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton called out a group named the Nationalist Social Club 131 as the one whose members were behind the banner and declared them "domestic terrorists."

State Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) said: "Hate and bigotry cannot and will not be tolerated. I join Danvers leadership in condemning recent antisemitic actions on the Rail Trail.

"Thank you for confirming your commitment to inclusivity, tolerance and acceptance in the community."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)