Racist Banners Found Hanging On Newton Bridge: Police

NEWTON, MA — In the days following the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Building, banners trumpeting white supremacy and anti-Semitism were hung, not once, but twice on a Newton overpass.

The banners highlight there is much more to do in Newton to fight racial injustice and bigotry, the mayor said in her state of the city speech Wednesday.

"These banners appeared at such a difficult time – soon after the Capitol was overrun, and in the wake of a year in which severe racial disparities whether economic, educational or health ̶ have been laid bare," Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said during her state of the city address Wednesday. "I am actively committed to combating racism and hate. I ask for your help as we strive for deeper, more systemic racial justice and equity."

Someone called police to report there was a white supremacist banner hanging off the Echo Bridge over Ellis Street Jan. 10. When police got there they found a white sign with green lettering, with "Boer Lives Matter RTT USA" There was an image of a green pine tree and what appeared to be a lightning bolt in the center of it. Boer is an Alt Right, white supremacist group from South Africa, and the lightning bolt in the pine tree, is symbolic of the Nazi SS, police said.

Less than a week later on Jan. 16, an officer was driving near Ellis Street when he saw a banner hanging from the Echo Street Bridge that read "Her name was Ashli Babbitt, RTT, USA," referencing the Air Force Veteran who was killed while attempting to gain entry to the U.S. Capital Building on Jan. 6. In the middle of the banner was a green tree and Nazi SS symbol inside.

In 2020 there were 31 reported incidents related to bias or hate in the city, according to Newton police. Of those reported events, 10 took place at Newton South High School, and most of those were related to Zoom bombing. Other reported events included graffiti, the wearing of confederate flag hats, papers left on a car. The reports spanned everything from anti-gay, anti-Black, anti-Semitic, anti-Indian, anti-hispanic to anti-Asian.

Police say the Anti-Defamation League, the Newton Human Rights Commission, and Newton Public Schools if appropriate and local officials get notified when there's an incident reported.

"We take every incident, whether it's a bias-related crime or bias incident, we take it extremely serious, and we will follow it up and investigate it 100 percent," Lt. Bruce Apotheker said previously. "To do less would be an injustice to those victimized."

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.