THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 16, 2022 Page 11 Rally for pride and solidarity North Shore faith and community leaders assemble at Saugus Center to condemn an anti-Semitic banner By Mark E. Vogler “JEWS DID 9/11” Three hateful words written on a banner held by three masked men standing on an overpass on Route 1 South near the Walnut Street exit early Saturday night sparked about two dozen phone calls to the Saugus Police Department from irate drivers, according to Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli. While the anti-Semitic message offended many people who saw it live and later posted on social media, it was a catalyst for a “No Place For Hate Rally For Pride & Solidarity” on Wednesday (Sept. 14) night. About 100 people – elected offi cials, police chiefs, leaders of the Jewish community, local rabbis and lay readers – joined Chief Ricciardelli and other town officials outside Saugus Town Hall in a show of commendation for recent displays of anti-Semitism, including the Saugus incident. “It’s just an honor to be with like-minded people,” State Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) told the gathering. “If you noticed, none of the people hid behind a mask,” he said, a reference to the masked men who held the anti-Semitic banner on the overpass. Rabbi Yossi Lipsker, executive director of Chabad of the North Shore, credited the offensive banner for mobilizing people of Jewish and others throughout the North Shore in a show of condemnation of the hateful act. “I want to say to the cowards out there that each and every time it happens, it backfi res,” Rabbi Lipsker said. “You won’t see this many Jews coming together, except for Yom Kippur,” he said, referring to the holiest, most important day THIS WEEK ON SAUGUS TV Sunday, Sept. 18 from 9–11 p.m. on Channel 8 – “Sunday Night Stooges” (The Three Stooges). Monday, Sept. 19 all day on Channel 8 – “Movie Monday” (classic movies). Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 9 – School Committee Meeting from Sept. 15. Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. on Channel 8 – Summer Concert Series from Aug. 24. Thursday, Sept. 22 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 9 – Planning Board Meeting from Sept. 15. Friday, Sept. 23 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 22 – Football vs. Northeast Metro Tech from Sept. 17. Saturday, Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. on Channel 22 – Field Hockey vs. Swampscott from Sept. 16. Saugus TV can be seen on Comcast Channels 8, 9 & 22. For complete schedules, please visit www.saugustv.org. ***programming may be subject to change without notice*** This banner sparked a Wednesday night rally attended by religious and community leaders throughout the North Shore who assembled at Saugus Town Hall to denounce anti-Semitism. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) of the year in Judaism, known as the “Day of Atonement.” State Rep. Paul Tucker (D-Salem), who faces no Republican opposition in the November election for Essex County District Attorney, said he was “proud” of the crowd attending the rally. “We will stand up. We will show up,” Tucker declared, urging people to respond aggressively to acts of anti-Semitism by denouncing them instead of ignoring them. Many of the speakers off ered their support to Saugus, saying they shared the problem with town residents and knew that the recent banner didn’t refl ect what the town is about. “It was really hurtful,” Chief Ricciardelli said of the banner that many drivers on Route 1 2.25 %APY* With rates like this, earning while you save is easier than ever. Ask about our in-home or office concierge service. EARN INTEREST WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS FROM A NEW MILESTONE SAVINGS ACCOUNT. Saving is hard. We get it. Life gets in the way. That’s why we created the Milestone Savings Account. With an amazing 2.25% APY* and no restrictions, reaching those financial goals gets a lot easier. Stay liquid. Earn while you save. And do it easily with a New Milestone Savings Account. Go to everettbank.com for details. Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli addressed the crowd at a Wednesday night rally to condemn anti-Semitism, including the recent banner incidents in Saugus and Danvers. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) South saw on Saturday night. “This is certainly the fi rst incident like this for me as chief and the fi rst I can recall as a member of the Saugus Police Department. “The banner was up there for 45 minutes to an hour before they went to Danvers,” he said. During his short speech to the gathering, the chief said the Saugus Police Department determined that no laws were broken. “The First Amendment made this country great and sometimes not so great,” the chief said. “We have to defend their right to peacefully demonstrate,” he said. However, he said that after talking with some other police chiefs in Essex County that his department “is going to do some things diff erently – in documenting and tracking these incidents.” On its website this week, the Police Department posted a statement denouncing the banner. “While the First Amendment protects one’s legal right to speech, the Saugus Police Department condemns the hateful messages displayed in our community and we condemn antisemitism and hate in all its forms,” the statement said. “Saugus Police notifi ed the Anti-Defamation League of New England about the incident, and would like to share the message released as a result by Robert Trestan, ADL New England Regional Director. The Saugus Police Department stands with its partners in the ADL.” “On September 11, a day when we remember a great tragedy experienced by our country and the loss of too many, a number of highway overpasses in our Commonwealth were tarnished with antisemitic banners, held by cowardly masked extremists, blaming these terrorist attacks on Jews,” Trestan said. “The scapegoating of the Jewish community is an age-old but exceedingly harmful antisemitic trope RALLY | SEE PAGE 19 * This account is available to all new customers and for existing customers with new monies of $50,000. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of the date posted and are subject to change without notice. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Minimum of $50,000 is required to open a Milestone Savings and earn the advertised Annual Percentage yield. Fees could reduce earnings.
12 Publizr Home