Statement from Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll Regarding Swastika Graffiti

“I am sorry to report that sometime over the weekend a swastika was painted on the bandstand at Salem Common. Our Police Department is investigating this incident and will be reviewing surveillance cameras to try and determine who committed this heinous act.

“Whether it was undertaken with malicious intent or stupidity, this action needs to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

“I would like to believe that this is an isolated incident in our city, but given today's Boston Globe story on similar occurrences in other cities, it is evident that no community is immune from hatred and that we must remain ever vigilant in our denouncement of these types of actions and more importantly, in our support for combating bigotry and hatred in any form.

“The very name of our community emanates from the Hebrew word for peace - Shalom. In Salem, we strive to be a welcoming and inclusive city and in the wake of this incident we will continue our work with our community partners like Salem's No Place for Hate Committee, the ADL and others to continually educate, advocate and work toward that goal. We must be tireless in our efforts to bridge our differences and continue to support each other within the diverse, vibrant community we are fortunate enough to call home.”