Posted on: Thursday, June 4, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Police Department is currently investigating an incident involving racist graffiti.
A resident came across the graffiti that was spray-painted on a stream crossing while going for a walk in the Beaver Dam Brook conservation area on Wednesday, June 3. The resident notified the Land Use Department, which immediately reported it to the Police Department.
Lynnfield Police immediately documented the scene and has launched a criminal investigation. Police Chief David Breen is asking anyone who has knowledge of the incident to immediately to report it to the Police Department at 781-334-3131.
A DPW crew removed the graffiti and will be replacing the crossing.
Breen, Town Administrator Rob Dolan and the Board of Selectmen released the following statement about the incident.
“There is no place for hate speech and hateful behavior in the town of Lynnfield,” the officials stated. “We condemn this vile and abhorrent act, which is completely antithetical to our community values of respect and tolerance, in the strongest terms. We assure our residents that the town of Lynnfield stands with all who are targeted by hate speech and racist acts and will not tolerate this type of behavior.”
The racist graffiti comes in the wake of protests occurring across the country following the death of 46-year-old George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes and 49 seconds on Memorial Day. The officer has been charged with second-degree murder. Three other officers at the scene were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. All four officers have been fired.
The racist graffiti was found the day before the town and Lynnfield for Love were scheduled to hold a virtual vigil remembering Floyd’s life. Selectman Chris Barrett spearheaded the vigil and reached out to Lynnfield for Love in order to make it happen.
“It is so important that we, as a community, stand up and reject racism and hatred in all forms,” said Barrett in a statement. “I thank Lynnfield for Love for their collaboration in this event.”
Lynnfield for Love noted in a statement that it “denounces all acts of injustice.”
“We are a grass-roots organization which aims to foster an appreciation and understanding of diversity that promotes kindness, equality and justice for all people,” Lynnfield for Love stated.
