Anti-Semitic Fliers Found In Newton: Police

NEWTON, MA — Fliers implying Jewish people are pedophiles were found in four book exchange bins around the city Sunday morning, police confirmed.

The bins involved are on Lowell Avenue, Cottage Street, Walnut Street and Morse Road, said police spokesperson Lt. Bruce Apotheker.

The fliers were linked to the Daily Stormer Book Club, an “alt right segment of the white supremacist movement,” according to the Anti-Defamation League.

Whenever a report of anti-Semitism comes into the police, it is reported to the Anti-Defamation League and the Newton Human Rights Commission to investigate. The ADL was not immediately available for comment.

The fliers come after the Newton School District has been under fire from groups criticizing its high school history curriculum, and the superintendent has begun working with the Israeli American Council.

In 2018 13 anti-Semitic incidents were reported to police between Jan. 1 and Dec. 7, Patch previously reported. Police stressed that not all bias-related reports are crimes. In 2017, there were 15 incidents reported and in 2016 there were 21.

"Bias-related incidents" can range from name-calling to graffiti on public property, said Apotheker.

"We take every incident, whether it's a bias-related crime or bias incident, we take it extremely serious, and we will follow it up and investigate it 100 percent," he said. "To do less would be an injustice to those victimized."

Subscribe to Newton Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

RELATED:

• Newton Teachers, School Committee Defend History Curriculum
• Newton Temple Responds To Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack
• Newton History Teachers Harassed Unjustly: Superintendent
• Mayor: I Categorically Reject Accusations Against Newton

Got something to add?

Sign up to post to Patch and tell your neighbors what's going on in and around Newton.

Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff. Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).