By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — A second town employee has resigned in the wake of the Lynnfield High School graduation livestreaming incident.
Three town employees were placed on administrative leave on the night of June 6 after inappropriate and racist language was overheard while the employees were setting up Lynnfield High Class of 2025’s graduation ceremony on June 6 that was filmed during a livestream.
Several residents sent the Villager the video, which featured the employees setting up Pioneer Stadium for the graduation ceremony. One of the employees was caught on a hot mic using racist words to describe Black and Hispanic people.
One of the employees placed on administrative leave resigned from their position on June 9. The town immediately launched an investigation into the incident.
“The town has completed its review into the conversation that occurred on Friday, June 6 before the Lynnfield High School graduation,” said Town Administrator Rob Dolan in a statement. “Two of the employees involved in the conversation resigned from their positions with the town. It was determined that a third employee did not make any statements that were inappropriate and attempted to defuse the conversation. That third employee has been reinstated and instructed to report similar future incidents or comments to their supervisor as soon as possible.
“The review of this incident has now been completed,” Dolan continued. “As stated at the outset, the town of Lynnfield leaders stand together in outrage over what occurred and continue to state emphatically that racist language and behavior has no place in our town, will not be tolerated and will be dealt with immediately.”
After learning about the LHS graduation livestreaming incident at 7 p.m. on June 6, Dolan and retired Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin wrote in an initial joint statement that the Select Board, Superintendent Tom Geary and Police Chief Nick Secatore were informed about the incident.
“We, as town leaders, stand together in outrage over what has been reported (on June 6) and wish to state emphatically that racist language and behavior has no place in our town and will be dealt with immediately,” Dolan and Curtin wrote. “It is especially regrettable that this incident took place on what is and should be a night to celebrate our incredible seniors.”
Geary agreed.
“It outrages me that this happened before our high school graduation, and I am sickened that our community was exposed to this type of language and hate,” said Geary during the School Committee’s June 10 meeting.
There have been a number of racist and anti-Semitic incidents that have occurred in town over the past five years. The Police Department has launched an investigation after racist graffiti was discovered on the evening of Wednesday, June 18.
In a post on the Town of Lynnfield’s Facebook page, Dolan stated that, “Racist graffiti on a curb on Thomas Road was reported to police.” The graffiti was found at 9:10 p.m. on June 18, which was the day before Juneteenth.
“The graffiti was documented by the Lynnfield Police, and painted over per protocol by the Department of Public Works,” Dolan stated. “Police are investigating. Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is strongly urged to call Lynnfield Police at 781-334-3131. Racism and hate have no place in the town of Lynnfield and this type of behavior is an attack on the values our community holds dear.”