Swastika fire

On November 23,1999, 5 Andover High students aged 15 to 17 set a fire roughly in the shape of a swastika in the playing field behind the Andover High School field house. Other students were surprised and infuriated and helped police find those who set the fire. The students were charged with arson, civil rights violations, defacing school property, and vandalizing real estate. It was determined that their actions were more in the nature of a prank than a hate crime. The students were suspended for 3 days and banned from extra-curricular activities for a year.One student wrote a public apology published in the Townsman. Rabbi Robert Goldstein of Temple Emmanuel asked for "atonement, not vengeance." More than 200 people joined a candlelight vigil in which the rabbi, Reverend Cal Mutti of South Church, and a group of Andover High students asked others to "speak out against hatred,intolerance and bigotry" and to "banish darkness with the light of love and tolerance."

• Youths Light Fire in Apparent Shape of Swastika.

Townsman 12/2/1999, page 16

• Five Arrested for Swastika Fire. Townsman 12/16/1999, page 1

• Students Suspended, Banned from Activities; Anti-hate Vigil Set for Tonight. Townsman 12/23/1999, page 1

• Teen Apologizes for Swastika Burning. Townsman 12/24/2000, page 7

• A Time for Healing. (Anti-hate Vigil) Townsman,

Townsman 12/30/1999, Page 6

--Leslie 12:28, October 19, 2011 (EDT) back to Main Page