....................480 Adams Street, Suite #208, Milton Massachusetts, USA • 617.696.7758
 
 
 
 

Selectmen Decry
Alleged Attack

By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
7/30/09
The Selectmen are not mincing words in weighing in on an alleged hate crime.
The board, at its first meeting after the alleged attack of a black man by two white men on Randolph Avenue, roundly condemned the act, which they called “extremely rare” for Milton.
Robert Clarke, 24, of 14 Sassamon Ave., is facing hate-crime charges following the July 19 incident.
“We don’t condone these type of actions. They are rare, but when these incidents do occur, I think it’s important for the town and the Board of Selectmen to come out with a strong statement against it,” Selectmen Chair John Shields said July 22 as part of his public reaction.
“This is not something we’ve seen really ever, if very rarely,” Selectmen Marion McEttrick added.
“It’s something that was an awful, awful situation. We were all outraged when we heard it,” Selectman Kathy Fagan said of the assault, which was reportedly carried out with a wooden stake and a lead pipe after a racial slur was uttered.
Fagan directed her sympathies toward the victim.
“No one should ever have to go through that,” she said.
Shields said the Selectmen have reached out to the Milton Interfaith Clergy Association to begin a healing process. He said the board is cautioned not to rush to judgment regarding the incident, but said he trusts the legal system.
Police said Clarke and another man – whom they are attempting to identify – assaulted a 45-year-old black man from Randolph who was walking near Clarke’s home around 3 a.m. Clarke was arrested and a 28-year-old Braintree man who police say was drunk but did not participate in the assault was placed into protective custody. Police said the incident was fueled by alcohol.
According to police, after being attacked the man was transported to Milton Hospital and received staples to close a head wound. He was well enough to answer questions at the police station later the same day, police said.
Clarke pleaded innocent in Quincy District Court on July 20 to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, malicious and wanton destruction of property, and civil rights violations considered to be a hate crime.