Police Investigating Hateful Graffiti Left On 2 Brockton Homes
BROCKTON (CBS) - Brockton police are investigating racist and hate-filled graffiti found spray-painted on two homes in the city as hate crimes.
Brad Nelson awoke to a swastika right outside his bedroom window that had defaced his home.
"That's as offensive as it gets. Not just to Jewish people, it's anti-freedom, it's racist, it's everything you can possibly do," said Nelson.
The family has already tried to wash away another message under the word Jew that was scrawled on the home.
"This is someone filled with an awful lot of hate. This is not your everyday person going around and doing something like that."
Just a mile away Marie Lecoin found a racist slur and swastika spray-painted by her front door. It frightened her enough that police are keeping a watchful eye in the neighborhood.
"I'm afraid if they write something like that what will they do next," said Lecoin who feels targeted by someone.
The two families are now connected by crimes that police say they have no leads for, and both are longtime residents of their neighborhoods.
"It's still early in the investigation," said Brockton police Lt. Ken LeGrice.
The Nelsons, a Jewish family, are now observing Passover.
At their local temple Rabbi Ilana Foss had a message for those responsible.
"I hope they see the error of their ways and learn to embrace a rich and diverse world."
Marie Lecoin has moved plywood over the disturbing message she has not yet been able to clean. But nothing can wipe away the stain for either family.
"I was very scared, it's not safe to stay here to tell you the truth," said Lecoin.
Brad Nelson says if there's any good to come out of this, it's the overwhelming support and positive messages his family has received.
"One person got their kicks in and we got 50 to 100 people contacting us all day," said Nelson.