More than one-hundred people gathered outside Saugus’ Town Hall Wednesday, standing together to say, hate has no place here after a group of men, covered in masks, held an anti-Semitic banner over Route 1 during the anniversary of 9/11 this weekend.
“We were very shocked as a community to learn of this outrageous banner hanging over Route 1 in Saugus on both sides, north and south, and we had no doubt or question that we needed to respond to it,” said Rabbi Yossi Lipsker, director of Chabad of the North Shore.
From Jewish faith leaders to state officials and neighbors of Saugus, so many came together to support each other after they were outraged by that hateful banner.
“It’s jarring, it’s very disturbing, and then you know right away we need to be with other like-minded people,” said Rep. Sally Kerans of Danvers.
Saugus Police say the men responsible were technically not breaking any laws since the First Amendment protects free speech, but the police department says they condemn the hateful, false message.
“No more of this, this is not acceptable in any way shape or form, this is not what it means when we say we have freedom of speech in America,” said Rabbi Lipsker.
Now this group hopes to lift up the Jewish community after this alarming incident.
“If we can turn it around and manage it and leverage it to our advantage like we did here tonight, then that sends a very strong message and I think that message was sent tonight,” said Rabbi Lipsker.
The rabbi says after this gathering, the town of Saugus will likely start lighting a menorah outside town hall during Hannukah to show even more support for the Jewish community.
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