BAA’s vague statement on marathon spectator seen giving Nazi salute leaves some frustrated

Boston Marathon organizers have spoken out to condemn “hatred of any kind” following reports of a marathon spectator seen stomping on an Israeli flag and giving a Nazi salute during last week’s race. 

“There is no place for hatred of any kind at the Boston Marathon or in running,” the Boston Athletic Association said in a statement Friday. “It is a day which celebrates the triumph of the human spirit, hard work, and the pursuit of goals.”

But some athletes and marathon-goers said the BAA’s response — which condemned the reported “hateful actions” but did not include details about the incident in question — left something to be desired. 

“Might be the most cowardly recognition of an offensive event that I’ve ever seen,” marathoner Chris McConnell wrote on Instagram. “The BAA pleased no one with this apology.”

In an accompanying video, McConnell said he “find(s) it weird that people aren’t willing to describe this incident for what it was and who was doing it. How in the world are we supposed to fight against things if we can’t even talk about them?”

He included a clip originally posted by another Boston Marathon finisher, Michal Yalovski, which appears to show a man with a short mustache wearing a red band around his arm while giving a Nazi salute and marching in place atop an Israeli flag. 

McConnell and other athletes who commented below the BAA’s post indicated the man was stationed about five miles into the course, where marathoners cross into Framingham. A Framingham Police Department spokesperson was not immediately available for comment on whether the department received any complaints about the spectator. 

Boston Marathon runner Yoel Levy, who posts online as “The Jewish Fitness Coach,” said the man was also “shouting extremely terrible things.” Stephanie Miller, a fellow athlete who commented below the BAA’s post, likewise alleged the man yelled “heil Hitler” as runners passed. 

“He’s allowed his own opinion,” Levy said in a video posted to Instagram. “But during a marathon, there’s a time and place. … That was just disturbing, for not just Jewish runners, but for non-Jewish runners.”

Levy added: “If it was any other flag, this would have made news the day after the marathon, not half a week after the marathon. … For some reason, because it’s an Israel flag, people are like, ‘Yeah, OK.’”

Another Boston Marathon runner, Ido Simyoni, commented below the BAA’s post to thank the organization for its statement while adding, “The silence from your end was hurtful, especially knowing how much your team cares about the Jewish community and Jewish runners.”

At a permitted event like the Boston Marathon, Simyoni said, “conduct that targets participants and disrupts public order crosses the line and should have led to removal.”

Reached for comment on the public reaction to its response, the BAA referred back to Friday’s statement. Meanwhile, the spectator’s purported actions also drew condemnation from the Anti-Defamation League of New England and Benjamin Sharoni, Israel’s Boston-based consul general to New England. 

Sharoni called the spectator’s conduct “disgusting and beyond the pale,” adding, “This is open Jew-hatred, plain and simple.” Samatha Joseph, ADL New England’s regional director, likewise denounced the “vile display of antisemitism.” 

“The Boston Marathon represents the very best of our shared values,” Joseph said in a statement. “We will not allow hate to overshadow the spirit of this event or diminish the safety and dignity of any participant or spectator.”

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.