For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 978-841-9948
Email: john@jgpr.net

Statement of Maynard Board of Selectmen

MAYNARD — Chris DiSilva, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, releases the following statement on behalf of the board:

“Last week, it came to the attention of the Maynard Board of Selectmen that an image and caption were shared on a Facebook group representing the Maynard Republican Town Committee depicting billionaire George Soros and referring to him as a Nazi.

“Going beyond the rank and proven untruthfulness of such assertions, it is particularly troubling that such hateful speech has circulated through a body that claims association with our community.

“To be clear, the Maynard Republican Town Committee, made up of delegates chosen during gubernatorial elections, is not a town government body and has no connection to town government.

“We, the Board of Selectmen, are troubled by the casual dissemination of hateful, antisemitic, and misleading rhetoric. Not only do we renounce such rhetoric, but we steadfastly renounce all forms of hate and intolerance, be they speech or actions.

“We call upon the moderators of this Facebook group and the Massachusetts Republican Party to renounce this posting and all forms of hateful speech and acts.”

George Soros, a billionaire investor and outspoken supporter of liberal and progressive causes, is American and Jewish. He was born in Hungary and was 9 years old at the outbreak of World War II. He has frequently been the target of rumors seeking to discredit him. The Maynard Board of Selectmen takes no position on his political leanings or causes, but is troubled by the local re-posting of this obviously hateful attempt to discredit Soros for his political beliefs. It is the belief of the board that such acts run contrary to the spirit of American Democracy. 

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