This weekend Hopkinton residents woke up to find antisemitic and hateful symbols spray painted in blue graffiti on their roads, mailboxes and street signs. The vandalism took place on Penacook Road where town officials and community members came out to clean the graffiti.
“The Town of Hopkinton unequivocally condemns the hateful racist and anti-semitic symbols and language on Penacook Road,” members of the Selectboard said in a statement.
Hopkinton Police Chief, Thomas J. Hennessey said that the investigation is underway and there are no suspects yet. However, they have leads.
“We have extra patrols and are very vigilant,” said Hennessey to ensure something similar doesn’t happen again. “We ask the public if they see anything to call us, let us know immediately and not wait to record it.”
The previous case of graffiti vandalism in Hopkinton took place more than five years ago and it wasn’t of the same nature, said Hennessey.
State Senator Becky Whitley, a resident of Hopkinton, said she stands with local authorities, the community, and locals in denouncing the hateful act.
“Vandalizing public property with such horrific hate speech is a disgraceful act of cowardice and malice,” said Whitley. “This type of alarming and racially motivated act has absolutely no place in our beloved community and shows that no community is immune.”
Whitley said the community should work toward inclusivity and safety while holding each other accountable.
