Norwich Police investigate swastika graffiti with 'TRUMP' on Route 82
Norwich — Police are investigating a report of swastikas painted on Route 82-Salem Turnpike and on banners hung from the I-395 highway overpass at Exit 11 overnight or early Friday morning.
Crews from the state Department of Transportation and the city Public Works Department removed the hanging items and painted over the graffiti Friday morning.
A large swastika was painted in black with the word 'TRUMP' in white block letters under it on Old Salem Turnpike at the intersection with Route 82. Photos were posted on social media of the image, and a concerned citizen sent a photo to Public Works Director Brian Long early Friday morning.
Police Lt. Kyle Besse said police received numerous calls starting at 6:40 a.m. reporting the graffiti and banners. Calls also came from people traveling to work and to the nearby Thomas Mahan School.
Besse said police continued to receive calls hours after the images were removed or covered, because of social media posts.
Police are investigating and are reviewing security video footage from nearby businesses, Besse said. No arrests were announced by late Friday afternoon.
Long said a city crew painted over the image on Old Salem Turnpike Friday morning, as the quickest way to erase the image.
'We want to assure the public that the Norwich Police Department is diligently investigating this matter,' police said in a news release. 'Our officers are working swiftly to gather all available evidence, and we are committed to identifying those responsible for this criminal act.'
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Norwich Police Department at (860) 886-5561.
The Beth Jacob Synagogue and offices for the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut are located nearby on New London Turnpike.
Rabbi Julius Rabinowitz said Friday that the swastika continues to be 'a symbol of hate, a symbol of Nazis, a symbol of Hitler,' to Jewish people. But he said from what he has learned of the incident in Norwich Friday, the images with Trump's name associated with them could be aimed at the president and not a threat to the synagogue.
He said he will trust local police to conduct a thorough investigation and assessment of the situation.
c.bessette@theday.com
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