2 Men Charged In Salem White Supremacist Vandalism: Police

SALEM, MA — Two men who police said were caught in the act of "tagging" public property with potentially white supremacist, racist and antisemitic graffiti were charged with vandalism, with more charges possible, according to police.

Salem police have been investigating a rash of racist spray-painted phrases in recent months from members of a group they identified as the "Patriot Front" — which the Anti-Defamation League classifies as white supremacist, racist and antisemitic.

Police said that on Saturday night, Officer Edgar Green responded to the MBTA train station on Bridge Street and saw two men, masked and wearing hoods, "engaged in what he believed to be tagging of public property."

Green said the men attempted to conceal items in their backpack when they saw his patrol car, were stopped and were found to have fresh paint on their hands and clothing.

Police said there was also fresh paint on the wall and an investigation revealed two stencils that read: "STRONG FAMILES (sic) MAKE STRONG NATIONS PATRIOT FRONT.US" and "DEFEND AMERICAN LABOR FRONT.US"

Kyle Morelli, 27, of Salem, and Alex Beilman, 27, of Meriden, Connecticut, were charged with vandalism and tagging, with police saying more additional charges may be sought.

The Southern Poverty Law Center identifies the Patriot Front as "an image-obsessed organization that rehabilitated the explicitly fascist agenda of Vanguard America with garish patriotism. Patriot Front focuses on theatrical rhetoric and activism that can be easily distributed as propaganda for its chapters across the country."

Anyone without information or questions on the case can direct them to Lt. John Burke at 978-744-0171, ext. 50278, or jburke@salempd.net.