Virgin Mary statue vandalized city councilor calls for hate crime investigation

A statue of the Virgin Mary at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston was defaced with graffiti this week, leading City Councilor Ed Flynn to call for an investigation into a possible hate crime. The graffiti, applied with pink chalk, contained “illegible religious ramblings,” as reported by a Boston Police Department officer who arrived at the scene early Thursday morning. Flynn posted images of the vandalism on social media and highlighted the need for a thorough investigation, connecting it to a pattern of similar incidents across the country. The officer's report indicated that the statue was vandalized between 8 p. m.

Wednesday and 7 a. m. Thursday. Despite Flynn's concerns, the police report does not classify the act as a hate crime. This incident follows a history of vandalism against religious figures in the Boston area, including a Virgin Mary statue set on fire in 2020.

In another case, a man was arrested in 2023 for damaging a statue of Jesus Christ at the same cathedral. These recurring acts of vandalism raise serious concerns about the protection of religious symbols in the community.