Andover officials: Swastikas at school were felony hate crime - Boston Herald

Andover police are investigating the discovery of three swastikas found drawn on a classroom desk at the town's high school yesterday just hours before the the start of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. Because the drawings were found in the classroom of a Jewish teacher, town officials are treating the incident as a felony hate crime.

"The moment we write these acts of intolerance and hatred of as mere ignorance we are admitting that we must live with hate in our community," Town Manager Andrew Flanagan said in a statement.

"Our community is much stronger than that. We are a vibrant, tolerant, welcoming community," he said, "and we will not allow hate speech or hate crimes to pervade in our schools, or anywhere else."

This marks the third time in recent months a swastika has appeared at the school.

"We are actively and aggressively investigating these incidents at Andover High School, and the men and women of the Andover Police Department seek to become active participants in the learning and healing process with the schools, and our community," Police Chief Patrick Keefe said. "Crime prevention happens in the community, and we are dedicated to preventing these terrible acts from happening again."

The town plans to hold a public forum on the issue early next year.

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