Hate crimes, no matter which groups are targeted, are disturbing to decent people everywhere. We the undersigned are also concerned with the response of the Rotary spokesperson to the recent incident in Houlton.

We appreciate the huge effort that went into the fund raising to buy bricks for this community improvement project. As a recent BDN series pointed out, Houlton, and all of Aroostook County, have been economically hard hit over the past 20 years, and any project that instills civic pride seems worth doing.

Our concern centers on the response. Paint is removable. Ruined bricks are replaceable. What is harder to build is acceptance and respect for all people. The message conveyed by this act was particularly heinous, especially in light of the recent similar vandalism in Presque Isle.

Rotary Clubs have a long history of actively supporting our diverse communities, including sponsoring Speakouts and HIV prevention presentations that foster safer, inclusive communities. It is unfortunate Michael Clark’s reported comments honed in on the damage to tangible, replaceable bricks instead of denouncing the message of hate. Darylen Cote, Catherine Bohls, Daphne Harris, Pat Good, Debra Blair, Angela McCarty, Houlton

We, the undersigned Chrisstan clergy of Presque Isle, hereby declare our condemnation of the recent vandalizing of the Aroostook Hebrew Community Center. If this vandalism was “merely” a prank, it was thoughtful, tasteless and not at all funny. We call on those responsible to come forward, apologize and make restitution for the damage they have done. If this was an act of organized hatred, we stand together against it, and declare God’s opposition to such hatred.

We extend our deepest regrets to the Jewish commnity of Aroostook County and pledge ourselves to opposing prejudice in all its forms and to promoting religious freedom for all our citizens. May God free us all from the sin of hatred, and enable us to live together in justice and peace. The Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Blackstone, Grant Memorial United Methodist Church; the Rev. Robert S. Grove-Markwood, The Presque Isle Congregational Church, United Church of Christ; the Rev. Scott Benner, State Street Baptist Church; the Rev. Kenneth Phelps, Mapleton United Baptist Church; the Rev. Edwin R. Skane, Family Christian Center; the Rev. Thomas LeQuinn, Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church; the Rev. James W. Ackerson, Bethany Baptist Church; the Rev. John Gallagher, State Road Advent Christian Church; the Rev. Robert A. Smith Jr. and the Rev. Dr. Richard E. Johnson, Saint John’s Episcopal Church

I was saddened to hear about the vandalism at the local synagaogue used by the Aroostook Hebrew Community. The citizens of Presque Isle have joined together to publicly condemn the actions against the Jewish community.

As a candidate for House District 145, I am proud to know I am campaigning to represent a community that is devoted to protecting the freedoms of its friends and neighbors. If those responsible for this hate crime are not brought to justice, the outcry from the city’s leaders is a harsh warning to anyone who considers undertaking additional racially motivated actions. We will stand together to maintain a safe commnity, free of ethnic crime. Richard H. Duncan Presque Isle

Though angered by this antisemitic event, I am proud of the community support for the Aroostook Hebrew Community. The public has come foward to condemn the actions against our Jewish friends and neighbors.

Presque Isle will not tolerate this behavior. I am confident we will stand strong together and squash any future acts of hatred. Rep. James O-Donnelly R-Presque Isle