Joseph A. Curro Jr., chairman of the Human Rights Commission, told Town Meeting May 2 that the commission has raised enough money to cover the cost of an ad. Excess funds that might come in as part of this effort will be committed to the commission's education and awareness activities. "We are extremely grateful for and moved by the overwhelming outpouring of support by the community," he wrote in an e-mail May 3. 

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"We are frantically continuing to record the names of individuals -- and a number of institutions --
to our planned advertisement. Expressions of support have been coming in faster than we can process them, but we have full confidence that we will surpass our goal of 1,000 signatures from people concerned with recent events and committed to maintaining Arlington's reputation as a great town.

Because AHRC offices close at noon Friday, anyone wishing to turn in signatures or contributions after that time may send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or call781-641-4190.

 

The HRC is including names received through Sunday afternoon.

 

Curro said May 1: "Due to the logistical challenge of collating contributions and signatures and the overwhelming response we have received, we are extending the deadline to this Sunday, May 6."

 

He said earlier: "Other anti-Semitic correspondence was sent to Jewish officials, complaining that Arlington has 'a Jew running the schools now,' and stating, 'We don’t need any more.' Several of the letters contained expletives or sexually explicit graphics."

 

One of the mailings was received April 13 by Paul Schlichtman and his wife three days after he left the School Committee.

Others were received by other unnamed officials and by teachers at Ottoson Middle School during the monthlong controversy involving Superintendent Nate Levenson and Principal Stavroula Bouris.

 

The Advocate reported April 26 that Selectmen Chair Annie LaCourt had received an anti-Semitic comment on a returned mailing in which she supported School Committee candidate Josh Lobel. Both are Jewish.

 

Curro's handout to Town Meeting members said: "The common threads running through all of these letters were their cowardly anonymity and their attempts to intimidate public officials."

After YourArlington first reported the incident involving Schlichtman, "members of the Human Rights Commission were approached by residents concerned about the broader implications of the recent incidents. People have freely shared their own experiences with us and have asked for a strong response."

Curro said that on Tuesday, April 24, the commission voted unanimously to "facilitate the organization of a statement of concern and a call for unity in our town. We envision the placement of this statement in a privately funded full-page advertisement in The Arlington Advocate with the signatures of at least 1,000 Arlington residents and others who work, study or worship here."

 

Curro offered this perspective in an e-mail April 26:

 

"In the past, Arlington has been a target for drops of hate literature by white supremacist groups. We have often chosen not to publicize these incidents, as we have felt that such publicity would further the goals of the perpetrators.

 

"The latest case is different. Indications are that these mailings originated from within our community.  And -- given the anonymous nature of the writers -- it is reasonable to interpret their goal as intimidation of public officials and others, rather than publicity for themselves.  My judgment and that of many others in our town is that intimidation has no place in our civic discourse and that we must declare this principle loudly."

Curro asked the public for help, in these ways:

"If each person signing were to contribute $2 or $5, we would meet our goal quickly; any excess funds will be devoted to the commission’s educational activities," he wrote.

Make out checks to the Arlington Human Rights Commission. They may be given to a commissioner (see list) or mailed to AHRC, Whittemore-Robbins House, 670R Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass. 02476

You may also e-mail the commission at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

 

For those who want to e-mail support, Curro said April 27:

 

"Many people have e-mailed me requesting that their names be added, and we are happy to accept names in that manner to this email address. I have actually put an auto-responder on the address, so that anyone sending an email will receive complete instructions.

"I would request that for electronic submissions, folks include their addresses, so we can confirm if necessary."

 

The commission now aims to complete the collection of signatures and contributions by Sunday, May 6.