Lynnfield Employee Resigns After 'Hate' Words Spoken On High School Graduation Livestream

LYNNFIELD, MA — A Lynnfield town employee accused of using racist and inappropriate language that was broadcast as part of a high school graduation livestream has "resigned and is no longer employed by the town."

The town issued a statement saying that officials have begun an investigation into the recorded conversation that took place before Friday's graduation and could be heard by those watching the livestream.

Officials said in the latest statement announcing the resignation that the investigation was ongoing and there was "no further information or comment at this time."

• 'Stand Together In Outrage': Racist Words Mar North Shore Graduation Livestream

Town Administrator Robert Dolan and Assistant Town Administrator Robert Curtin said they learned of the incident at about 7 p.m. on Friday and that: "We, as town leaders, stand together in outrage over what has been reported this evening and wish to state emphatically that racist language and behavior has no place in our town and will be dealt with immediately."

The livestream has since been taken down , but was widely seen and shared on social media among students and residents before that. According to CBS Boston, the two men talking made references to their disdain for people of other races while the video showed people setting up the football field for the graduation.

"We can't ignore the fact that this incident took place at a school event and students were watching," School Committee Jamie Hayman said in a message on social media on Friday. "By now, hundreds of Lynnfield Public Schools students have heard these words. And just as importantly, they are now watching what we do next. If we treat this only as a personnel issue, we miss a critical opportunity to lead, to grow, and to teach.

"We must show our students that their community stands firmly against hate and discrimination."

School Committee member Kim Baker Donahue was among those voicing similar outrage.

"Some live with hate in their hearts," she said. "I said to my 16-year-old nephew that what this horrible incident demonstrates is pure ignorance, which is sometimes worse than hate. There is just no excuse for it, ever! I tell my kids every day when they leave to be kind, be a good friend and try their best.

"Who knows how these men were raised or what kind of lives they have at home. Clearly, tearing down others makes them feel powerful and better than others and that is very sad."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)