Three of our region’s leading Jewish-American organizations are rejecting calls for a boycott of Newton businesses following a fight and shooting at a rally at the corner of Washington and Harvard streets in Newtonville last Thursday.

“We are aware of calls to boycott Newton businesses — a call to action raised by a group or groups with no apparent relationship to Newton,” reads the joint statement issued this afternoon from the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Anti-Defamation League New England, and American Jewish Committee New England.

“We unequivocally reject this tactic, which seeks to place ‘blame’ or ‘consequences’ on local businesses that are not responsible for either the incident or its prosecution.

“Moreover, use of this tactic implicitly suggests that our criminal justice system is not capable of delivering justice through its time-honored processes.”

Read the full statement here.

• In a separate statement issued this afternoon, Newton state Sen. Cindy Cream said:  “Boycotts will not mend division. Punishing local Newton businesses for events they were not involved with is not the solution. I hope you will continue to support our local businesses as I plan to.”

• Earlier Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said: “The small businesses in Newton are not an appropriate target for those concerned with the charges filed in connection with this incident, nor do they deserve to be harmed.”

We appreciate the quick responses from these organizations and individuals who are rejecting this misguided and divisive attempt to punish our businesses which had no role in last week’s disturbing violence. 

Greg Reibman (he, him)

President & CEO

Charles River Regional Chamber

617.244.1688

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