At least four incidents of anti-Semitic graffiti in an area just north of the University of Massachusetts campus have been reported to police since early May.
The first incident occurred when a vehicle was spray-painted with graffiti on the morning of May 4. The next reports of the graffiti came to the attention of police May 4, when several people called about stop signs defaced at the intersection of Fairfield Street and Farview Way, near the School of Education, to town officials at Town Meeting.
Someone had painted the words “The Jews” below the word “stop,” they said.
“It hit me in the solar plexus,” said Nonny Burack, who lives in the neighborhood.
“I was horrified. It hit me harder because I’m Jewish. It really knocked me out to see it. It was very personal.”
The next incident was reported May 6 at 9:44 a.m. A fence surrounding a Dumpster outside a North Pleasant Street building was spray-painted with the words “The Jews.”
May 7 at 9:49 a.m. police took a report that the stop sign at the corner of Hobart Lane and North Pleasant Street had the same words written at the base of the sign.
In all cases, the vandals appeared to use a stencil to write the words.
Police are continuing to investigate the incidents and working with the Department of Public Works to remove the graffiti quickly.
Lt. Ron Young, head of the police detective bureau, said the behavior is considered illegal and if a suspect is identified, charges will be brought.
Guilford Mooring, the superintendent of public works, said he has asked his crews to use a substance that removes graffiti on the stop signs, and if that is ineffective to remove the signs.