On Thursday, April 13, the Derby Street Shoppes mall management in Hingham, Massachusetts received a voicemail containing a credible specific threat of violence against the display of a Pride flag. The caller, identified as Gage Scammell, age 29 of Weymouth, MA, stated he was going to come to the mall, shoot the flag down with a rifle, and burn it if it was not taken down within three days. The call also contained racist and antisemitic statements regarding the Jewish people. Mall management immediately notified the Hingham police.
Through the course of an investigation, officers were quickly able to identify Scammell, arrest him, and charge him with three crimes: Interference with Civil Rights, Deadly Weapons; threatened use or presence, and Threat to commit a crime. He was arraigned at Hingham District Court.
Police Chief David Jones released a statement expressing his support for the LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities and condemning any threats or discrimination against them. He emphasized that the Hingham Police Department will vigorously investigate threats against any member of the community and urged anyone with information or concerns to contact their Civil Rights Officer.
Jones also made it clear that any attacks against marginalized groups will be dealt with swiftly and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The police department in Hingham is committed to ensuring that the town is safe and inclusive for everyone.
In addition to its response to the threat against the Pride flag, the Hingham police department affirmed its commitment to the LGBTQ+ community on Friday by tweeting support for the annual Day of Silence. The Day of Silence is GLSEN’s annual day of action to spread awareness about the effects of bullying and harassment of LGBTQ+ students.
The incident in Hingham serves as a reminder of the ongoing threats and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community. While progress has been made in recent years, there is still much work to be done to ensure that all individuals are accepted and valued for who they are. The Hingham police department’s swift and decisive action against the threat sends a message that hate and intolerance will not be tolerated in the community.