Jewish Community Condemns Anti-Semitic Violence at Striar Jewish Community Center
(Stoughton, MA, March 5, 2006.) On the evening of March 4, 2006, the Striar Jewish Community Center in Stoughton, MA, was the target of Anti-Semitic vandalism. In an act of hate, ten large swastikas were spray painted across the front of the building.
On behalf of the Striar JCC and the JCC's of Greater Boston, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the Jewish Community Relations Council, and the Anti-Defamation League, we condemn this vicious act of hate against our community. Such hate has no place here in Boston or anywhere and runs counter to our community and country's values of acceptance and respect for differences. An attack against any of us, any community is an attack against all of us.
In response to this incident, there will be an Interfaith Community Solidarity Gathering of Jews, Christians, Muslims, and members of all faiths on March 5 at 2:00 p.m at the Striar Jewish Community Center, located at 445 Central Street in Stoughton. All members of the community are encouraged to join us. At the gathering, we will begin the cleanup of the vandalism and to demonstrate our community's solidarity against intolerance and hate.
While the incident appears to be an isolated one and there are no reports of any other activity and any direct threat, we take this threat seriously and have alerted the community. A police report has been filed, and the incident reported to the Anti-Defamation League. We know that Stoughton Police are properly investigating this incident as a hate crime. We encourage anyone with information about this vandalism to come forward.