Noose, white power signs found in Yarmouth

Flyers asking for white men to join local white nationalists were taped up along streets in Yarmouth over the weekend, just days after a noose was found hanging from a tree at a private beach, officials said Tuesday.

On June 17, Yarmouth police received a report of a noose hanging from a tree at a private association beach off of Pump House Lane, Yarmouth Police Chief Frank Frederickson said in a statement on the department’s Facebook page.

Frederickson said two teenagers were seen with a rope in the area before the noose was found, but witnesses told police they did not see anyone put the noose on the tree directly.

Shortly before 7 a.m. Saturday, 20 flyers that called for white men to join white nationalists were taped to utility poles, fences, and street signs on Higgins Crowell Road, Buck Island Road, south of Route 28, on Route 28 east, and west of Higgins Crowell Road, Frederickson said.

The signs, which read, “You will not destroy us. You will not replace us. White Power,” were pulled down by the responding patrol officer, police said.

Both incidents remain under investigation.

“These overtly inflammatory actions are denounced by the Yarmouth Police Department,” Frederickson said. “I strongly believe that this not representative of Yarmouth and was likely performed by a few troubled individuals who are hateful.”

Yarmouth police are working with other agencies to determine who was behind the incidents and to “take appropriate action,” Frederickson said.

“It is clearly understood that these incidents create fear, division and distrust in our community,” the chief said. “Please know that Yarmouth Police Department is committed to addressing issues of hate in our community.”

Anyone with information about either of these incidents should e-mail the Yarmouth Police Department at info@yarmouthpolice.com or call at 508-775-0445, ext. 0.

Caroline Enos can be reached at caroline.enos@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @CarolineEnos.