City officials say they are “horrified” by the “heartbreaking words” in the note.
Stoneham, Massachusetts city officials are “horrified” by the “heartbreaking words” used in an anonymous written letter, allegedly placed in the mailbox of a resident who has grass posters supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.
Dr. Erin Tracy Bradley told ABC News affiliate WCVB that she received a letter this week filled with racist rhetoric and aggressive language and reported it to the police.
For the past two months since the death of police-involved George Floyd was seen in a cell phone video of a viewer and posted on social media, protests have unleashed and racial tensions have increased worldwide .
The letter allegedly scolded Bradley for lowering “the value of his neighbor’s property” by placing Black Lives Matter signs on his lawn and “embarrassing himself and his family in front of a good community.”
ABC News has not obtained the letter.
“Obviously this is someone who is suffering and full of hate and anger,” said Bradley, who reported the letter to the Stoneham Police Department on Thursday according to the station.
“I was horrified by the content of this letter and want to make it clear that this type of behavior is not necessary and has no place in our community,” Stoneham Police Chief James Macintyre said in a press release on Friday.
City manager Dennis Sheehan said the city has had a “number of events highlighting the need for change in society” and made a “historic step” in appointing its first black leader to the board of its city.
“Despite all these positive steps, we see these heartbreaking words being used in our community,” Sheehan said in a statement.
Selectmen Board President Raymie Parker denounced the views in the anonymous letter in a statement and expressed her support for Bradley and “all those who speak out in support of racial justice.”
While the author of the note allegedly told Bradley to leave the neighborhood and warned him they were “eager to see her in the community,” the police told him it was not a direct threat. That “obviously made her feel a little awkward,” Bradley said.
The case is under investigation.
“Our city is better than this, our community is better than this, but unfortunately racism is still very real and sometimes painful,” said Bradley.
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