Brookline Police are investigating an alleged hate crime incident after a brick reading “Free Palestine” was thrown through a local kosher grocery store window over night.
“This morning we received a report from the owner of The Butcherie that a brick had been thrown through their window overnight,” Brookline Police said in a statement Sunday. … “Written on the face of the brick in large red letters were the words ‘Free Palestine.'”
Just after midnight Sunday, police said, multiple suspects in masks approached the local kosher grocery store at 428 Harvard St. from Coolidge Street and threw the brick through the window.
The preliminary investigation indicates that there were at least two suspects in the incident, though the exact number was no confirmed, Brookline Police stated. The suspects allegedly fled back down Coolidge Street to an unknown location after the vandalization.
No other businesses appear to have been targeted “as of now,” the police said Sunday.
Brookline Police identified the case as a “hate crime investigation” with malicious damage of property.
“This is deeply concerning and totally unacceptable,” Gov. Maura Healey wrote in a post on X on Sunday. “Acts of violence and intimidation have no place in our communities. We stand with our Jewish neighbors against antisemitism. Everyone deserves to live, pray and do business without fear in Massachusetts.”
The Combined Jewish Philanthropies said Sunday they are monitoring the situation and have reached out to the Brookline Jewish community and the business owners to offer support.
“Our Communal Security team is in close touch with Brookline Police and owners of the business while our Center for Combating Antisemitism is working with JCRC, ADL and other community partners,” the Combined Jewish Philanthropies said in a statement.
Brookline Police are actively investigating the incident.
“Any resident in the area who may have video related to this crime are asked to contact the Brookline Detective Division at 617-730-2711,” Brookline Police said.
