Reward, solidarity campaign on agenda for Human Relations Committee

LACONIA — The recent antisemitic graffiti incidents in the city are on the agenda for Monday’s meeting of the Human Relations Committee.

A groundskeeper at the former Laconia State School property started noticing racist graffiti in the summer of last year, and the symbols and messages continued to appear on the buildings, noticed in March and then again in September of this year. In November, the vandal or vandals took their spray paint cans to a densely-populated part of the city, defacing the exterior of a building used as offices of the local Democratic party.

A forum was held on Nov. 28, at which many community members and civic leaders spoke against the sentiments expressed by the graffiti. Two items on the upcoming Human Relations Committee indicate more action.

The committee will meet next on Monday, Dec. 11, at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall. The public is welcome to attend, or to watch on Zoom by clicking the link embedded in the agenda, found at laconianh.gov/agendacenter.

One item on the agenda is titled “Reward for Graffiti Perpetrator.” David Stamps, chair of the committee, said he didn’t have any details about it, other than to say that another member of the committee requested adding the item for discussion.

Another item on the agenda calls for a public campaign to counter the vandalism through the proliferation of yard signs.

The sign proposal was added at the request of Eric Hoffman, chair of the Laconia Democratic Committee. The headquarters of the Belknap County Democratic Committee was one of the latest targets of antisemitic graffiti in the city.

In a letter attached to the agenda, Hoffman told the committee his organization felt that a campaign of yard signs could “promote community solidarity.” However, if the Democrats led the campaign, it could “further politicize the issue,” and could lead to more targeting of Democratic offices and members. “I am asking the Human Relations Committee to consider heading up this effort, so that this can be done in a non-partisan way and involve as many local organizations as possible in the funding and distribution of these signs. We only ask that the wording of the signs be strong and unequivocal. ‘Laconia Stands Against Hate’ or something along those lines.”

Hoffman said the Democrats would help with funding and encouraging community members to display the signs.

“I know a yard sign campaign is not going to be the solution to this ongoing problem, but in a situation where many feel helpless as to how to fight back or respond, it is something tangible,” Hoffman wrote.