By Laura Hayes and Maureen Sullivan
MARLBOROUGH – A group of suspected neo-Nazis said it protested in front of a Marlborough hotel last weekend, leading to increased police patrols in the area and harsh criticism from local officials.
According to Marlborough Police Department Sergeant Zac Attaway, police were called to the Extended Stay America hotel in Marlborough at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 2 following the report that there were 15 to 20 protesters.
Police were told that the protesters were neo-Nazis protesting migrants who were staying in Marlborough.
In a post on the social media website Gab, a group calling itself the National Social Club, or NSC-131, has claimed responsibility for the protest.
A Tik-Tok video shared by the user @lokeyconvos showed footage of the demonstration, including the protesters yelling phrases like “refugees go home.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center describes NSC-131 as a “neo-Nazi group based in New England whose activities consist of staging protests and distributing hate literature.”
The center said the group has targeted immigrant, LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities in addition to anti-fascist and left-leaning activists.
According to Attaway, when police arrived at the Extended Stay, the protesters had left. However, the police department is increasing patrols at both the Extended Stay and the Holiday Inn, and the incident is under investigation.
“This is a disturbing situation, but it’s not anything the police can’t handle,” said Mayor Arthur Vigeant.
Last month, 27 homeless families – 90 individuals and 15 school-aged children – were placed at the Extended Stay. Some of the children are attending Marlborough Public Schools.
“Marlborough has come together to welcome the new families who have arrived here to begin the academic year, and our school community remains committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for each of our students,” said school Superintendent Mary Murphy in a statement on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, who has been active in welcoming refugee families to the area, has condemned NSC-131’s actions.
“Over the past week, I’ve been contacted by a handful of constituents expressing horror over a demonstration by NSC-131 members late last week at a Marlborough hotel where migrant families are being housed,” he said. “I condemn these expressions of hate by NSC-131 (Nationalist Socialist Club) … The NSC-131 members who visited Marlborough, cowards who cover their faces so that no one knows who they are, are xenophobic and racist.
“I stand in solidarity with the new arrivals being placed in hotels, shelters and temporary housing across Massachusetts, including in my district. I spoke with Mayor Arthur Vigeant this week, to ensure that the Marlborough police are aware of this hateful demonstration, and I know that the Healey-Driscoll’s Secretary of Housing Ed Augustus has been made aware of this demonstration, which is apparently part of a ‘hate tour’ by NSC-131 members, targeting migrant families.
“It is no coincidence that NSC-131 targeted this hotel, as the overwhelming majority of the new arrivals there are immigrants of color, mostly from Haiti, and the SPLC has documented that ‘NSC-131’s propaganda and actions routinely target religious and ethnic minorities, particularly Jews and undocumented immigrants, LGBTQ+ communities and left-wing activists.’
“Hate has no home here in Massachusetts, and I hope that constituents throughout my district will make this very clear.”
Attempts to contact the person who posted the video to Tik-Tok have been unsuccessful.
