Anti-Immigrant Fliers Found Near Somerville School; Police Investigating

SOMERVILLE, MA – Police are investigating fliers bearing what has been called a message of hate found this week near a largely Latino public school in Somerville. NECN first reported on the leaflets, which read, in all caps, "ICE is coming for you, be prepared now. Prepare your family now."

A parent found one of the fliers a few blocks from the East Somerville Community School on Wednesday, according to NECN. Somerville Superintendent of Schools Mary Skipper reported the incident to police and sent a letter to parents informing them of the fliers.

The K-8 school enrolls a large number of Latino students and offers a dual language program.

"While this incident remains under investigation by the Somerville Police Department, let me be crystal clear: hate, violence, and discrimination of any kind is not tolerated in our community," Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone said in an emailed statement. "Somerville is an incredibly diverse community and not only do we welcome diversity, we celebrate it. We celebrate families. We celebrate long-term residents and those who have just come to our great City, no matter where you come from. We celebrate dreamers. There is no room for hate."

Curtatone told NECN on Wednesday he believes the fliers were a response to the Trump administration's announcement that it would cancel the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects about 800,000 undocumented immigrants who entered the country as children.

In a joint statement issued Wednesday, Skipper and Curtatone reaffirmed their commitment to protecting Somerville's students, regardless of immigration status.

"We believe that every child that walks through our doors, and every young adult in our community, has the right to dream," the statement read in part. "As public educators we have the ethical and legal obligation to provide every student in our district with a high-quality education. As civil servants, we likewise strive to foster a climate of opportunity and respect for all in our community."

Read the full statement here.

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