Boston Holocaust Memorial Vandalized — Again

BOSTON (JTA) – A pane of glass was shattered Monday evening at the New England Holocaust Memorial, the second time in less than two months the memorial was vandalized.

One person, a 17-year-old juvenile male, is in custody for the alleged vandalism, a spokesman with the Boston Police Department told JTA. Two passersby tackled the alleged suspect and held him until police arrived, according to the Boston Globe, which also reported that the police are investigating whether this was a hate crime.

A visitor to the memorial, located along Boston’s historic Freedom Trail, told the Boston Globe he heard the sound of glass shattering as he was reading panels at the memorial and later saw police make an arrest.

“It’s a reminder that we as a community need to be united, both in our opposition to all forms of hate but also in the important role that memorials play in our community,” Robert Trestan told the Globe.

In a post on Twitter, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said Boston stands up against hate. “I’m saddened to see such a despicable action in this great city.”