Crime & Safety
Second Swastika Found On Salem Fire Box On Tuesday
The city reported the swastika sticker plastered on an Essex Street firebox two weeks after one was located at Salem High School.
SALEM, MA — Salem officials are condemning a swastika found on city property for the second time in two weeks.
Officials said a large sticker with a swastika and threatening language was found on the fire alarm box on Essex Street Tuesday morning between the Salem Public Library and downtown.
This is the second similar incident in less than two weeks after Superintendent of Schools Steve Zrike said a swastika was found at the high school that week.
Find out what's happening in Salemfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"The city strongly condemns this heinous act. This incident is evidence that no community, even one as welcoming as Salem, is immune from hatred," Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and Police Chief Lucas Miller said in a joint statement. "We must remain ever vigilant in denouncing these acts and in supporting efforts to combat bigotry and hatred. In Salem, we strive to be an inclusive community and to educate and advocate with others to this important goal.
"We must be tireless in our efforts to bridge our differences and continue to support each other within the diverse community that we are all fortunate enough to call home.”
Find out what's happening in Salemfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Salem police said in the statement that it takes this incident "very seriously" and is conducting a "robust investigation to determine who is responsible."
Anyone with information on the sticker, or who may have been in the area in the last 24 hours, is asked to contact Salem police at 978-744-1212.
"Individuals who identify offensive or dangerous graffiti, including stickers, should contact the police department immediately to report it and not remove it until police can suitably document it," police said. "Police or public works will remove it after it has been documented."
Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch.
(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
More Patch Coverage: Swastika Found At Salem High School: 'It's Very Concerning'
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.