Antisemitic, homophobic graffiti discovered at Taunton synagogue and residential

Native Information

The graffiti included a swastika that was spray-painted onto the aspect of Congregation Agudath Achim of Larger Taunton.

Police are investigating two situations of hateful graffiti that had been discovered at a house and a synagogue in Taunton. 

At about 3:30 p.m. on June 16, officers had been known as to a house on Everett Avenue. They discovered homophobic and racist graffiti spray-painted on a car and on a recycle bin, Taunton Police mentioned. 

Whereas there, the division obtained two extra calls reporting vandalism that was discovered at Congregation Agudath Achim of Larger Taunton on Winthrop Avenue.

Officers discovered a swastika and “different hateful references” spray-painted on the aspect of the constructing. The handwriting of the graffiti discovered on the synagogue was just like the graffiti discovered on the Everett Avenue dwelling, based on Taunton Police. 

“Taunton is not going to stand for acts of hate and intolerance, and we’ll name out these malicious and hurtful acts wherever we see them,” Taunton Police Chief Edward Walsh mentioned in an announcement. “No resident of our group must be made to really feel unsafe, unwelcome or intimidated due to their race, faith, ethnicity, gender, gender id, sexual orientation, or another demographic classification. We’ll aggressively examine these crimes and work with the district legal professional to prosecute these chargeable for these acts to the furthest extent of the legislation.”

Taunton Police have been working with leaders of the synagogue, and an investigation into each incidents stays ongoing. 

Antisemitism seems to be rising within the area. The variety of antisemitic incidents in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont elevated by 32% final yr in comparison with 2021, a report from the Anti-Defamation League discovered. The variety of antisemitic incidents in Massachusetts elevated by 41%. 

ADL New England Regional Director Rabbi Jonah Steinberg responded to the incident in an announcement to Boston.com. 

“The defacement of a sacred house in Taunton in the course of the Jewish Sabbath by antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+ and racist slurs was supposed to ship a message of concern and intimidation to the group.  As an alternative, the Agudath Achim Synagogue group has responded with resilience and pleasure because it continues to heal from this hateful incident,” Steinberg mentioned. “Sadly, what was skilled by Agudath Achim Synagogue is happening with growing frequency in Massachusetts and all through the nation, requiring our homes of worship to spend money on guaranteeing the bodily security and safety of congregants alongside their non secular mission. We’re grateful for the swift response from the Taunton Police Division and the Agudath Achim management and can proceed to assist the group.”