CCB MEDIA PHOTO
MASHPEE – Selectmen in Mashpee condemned the message of hate last week during its Monday meeting.
Members spoke out after a recent incident where a swastika was spray-painted onto the hood of a car in New Seabury.
Chairman of the board Thomas O’Hara read a statement from selectmen denouncing the action.
“The board condemns the person and the persons responsible for this act,” O’Hara read. “The board further wants to promote public awareness by reaffirming its commitment to being a ‘No Place for Hate’ community.”
Selectman Andrew Gottlieb said white supremacy groups, like Nazis, neo-Nazis and the KKK, and those who agree with their ideology have no place in civil society.
“There is no but and no qualifier and anyone in public office who offers anything other than a blank condemnation of this type of behavior and speech is beneath the office they hold,” Gottlieb said. “And that applies as much to us as it does right up to the president.”
Gottlieb said it is the board’s obligation to call out evil, bigotry and hatred.
“We cannot remain silent. It has been said and proven, sadly, throughout human history that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” Gottlieb said. “We are not silent and those of you in the broader community should not remain silent either.”
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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