Wayland HRDEI Committee charts response to anti-Semitic pool graffiti

WAYLAND — March 18, 2025 — Wayland diversity committee navigates dispute over "swastika" terminology after pool graffiti. The Human Rights, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee on Tuesday heard from three Hindu residents who said town statements describing the March 5 anti-Semitic graffiti at the community pool as a "swastika" had wounded South Asian residents who revere the sacred symbol. "This time we cannot punt," resident Sejal Srinivasan told the committee, urging community education distinguishing the Nazi Hakenkreuz from the ancient swastik. Chair Karen Blumenfeld framed the response as "a series of opportunities" rather than a one-time event, and members discussed engaging a professional facilitator, reviewing Holocaust curriculum at the schools and partnering with police on education. The committee also voted unanimously to co-sponsor a pre-town-meeting housing forum with the Wayland Housing Partnership and unanimously approved member Alyssa Au's "In Wayland we are many, In Wayland we are one" banner design, with signs estimated at $100 to $250 apiece and funding still to be identified.