Crime & Safety

White Supremacist Stickers Placed Near MVBBV Market: Organizers

Merrimack Valley Black and Brown Voices said three armed men were spotted placing Patriot Front stickers near their Haverhill outdoor market

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — White supremacist stickers were placed on cars around Merrimack Valley Black and Brown Voices' first outdoor market in Haverhill Sunday, the group said Monday.

The group postponed its second planned market, which had been scheduled July 25 in North Andover, "until further precautions are taken."

"One of our co-founders received a call from an attendee that there were three openly armed men seen roaming the area, placing stickers on people's cars," the group said in a statement. "These stickers were identified by one of our team as being the flag of Patriot Front, a white supremacist group."

Find out what's happening in North Andoverfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The white nationalist group has distributed propaganda in multiple Massachusetts communities since its founding in 2017.

"We conclude that the actions of this group were intended to intimidate our vendors, attendees and volunteers," Merrimack Valley Black and Brown Voices said. "They hope to sow fear and to dissuade our communities from coming together."

Find out what's happening in North Andoverfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The group decided to take some time to rest for their mental health after the incident, they said.

"Haverhill Police Department and local leaders are aware that these hate groups have been around," the group wrote. "But why has nothing been done?"

Patch has reached out to Haverhill police for comment and will update this story when we hear back.

"It is upsetting that we must implement and extend additional emotional labor in order to host and plan for our events, while other farmer’s markets do not have to," the statement continued.

The group called on allies to donate.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from North Andover