EDMONDS -– A cross burning at the home of a Middle Eastern family last week apparently was an act of revenge, not hate, the family said.
“They had my son’s name on the cross. It was meant to scare him,” said the father of the family, who asked not to be identified to protect his teenage son from further harassment.
Police are investigating whether the cross burning is tied to a recent falling out between the homeowner’s son and a former friend.
Officers questioned one boy, but he denied lighting the cross, Edmonds Police Sgt. Jeff Jones said.
Police are not calling the cross burning a hate crime yet, saying the family’s Middle Eastern background apparently wasn’t part of the motivation.
The family agreed, saying they still feel welcome in Edmonds.
“I was even here during the hostage crisis, and I never saw anything like this,” said the father, who moved to the United States 30 years ago and has lived in Edmonds 18 years.
The cross was made of wood and stood about 5 feet tall. It was set on fire in the front yard of the home in the 16000 block of 75th Place W. The flames charred some shrubs but didn’t damage the house.
The family was vacationing in Eastern Washington when one of the son’s friends called to tell them about the fire.
The incident is the second cross burning in Snohomish County in six months. In March, two cousins, both 16, burned a cross on the lawn of Pastor Jason Martin’s home in Arlington.
Martin, who is black, encouraged the Edmonds family “to pull together and know that others have gone through similar things and persevered.”
The Edmonds father said his family is grateful for the support they’ve received, adding they have a surveillance camera monitoring their property.
“You’ve got to continue living,” he said. “We want them to know we’re not afraid.”
Katherine Schiffner is a reporter for The Herald in Everett.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
