Newton Mayor Joins 250 Other US Mayors In Standing Against Hate

NEWTON, MA —Mayor Ruthanne Fuller joined more than 250 mayors nationwide this week by signing a statement condemning anti-Semitism and urging local communities to confront the issue.

Mayors United Against Antisemitism said its members issued a pledge five years ago that condemned acts of anti-Semitism in Europe. But in the meantime, they've seen "vicious attacks on American soil" — including the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue attack in Pittsburgh when 11 Jews were killed in the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in U.S. history, and more recently, antisemitic messages displayed during the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

"And so we gather again, as leaders of our cities and communities, to jointly say: 'Enough,'" the statement reads.

The group said that as mayors they had a responsibility to speak out against the "growing menace of antisemitism."

More than 10 other Massachusetts mayors have signed the declaration, including the mayors of Worcester, Beverly, Framingham, Malden and Salem, that said in part "antisemitism is not only an attack on Jews but an assault on the core values of any democratic and pluralistic society."

The group said it was committed to working within and across communities to advance the values of "respectful coexistence."

Jews, who make up less than 2 percent of the American population, were the victims of 60.2 percent of anti-religious hate crimes across the country, according to the FBI 2019 Hate Crimes Statistics.

Newton has had its share of anti-Semitism in the city. Most recently, there were two hateful banners found hanging on a Newton bridge, that referenced the Nazi Party's paramilitary organization.

Across Newton last year there were 31 reported incidents related to bias or hate in the city, according to Newton police. Of those reported events, five were categorized as anti-Semitism.

In 2018 13 anti-Semitic incidents were reported to police between Jan. 1 and Dec. 7, Patch previously reported. Police stressed that not all bias-related reports are crimes. In 2017, there were 15 incidents reported and in 2016 there were 21.

“This is not who we are as a community," Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said in 2019 when police found hateful pamphlets in little libraries around town." Newton stands united against anti-Semitism and all forms of hate. We reaffirm our core principles of respect, diversity and acceptance."

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.