What school officials called “hateful and bigoted graffiti” showed up last Wednesday near Peoples Academy and Morristown Elementary School.
A local resident spotted the graffiti spray-painted on a grass-covered walking path between the schools and a nearby softball field: a swastika, the symbol commonly associated with the Nazi party and white supremacy, and the MS-13 symbol, a reference to a nationwide criminal gang with roots in Los Angeles.
School officials condemned the graffiti, which was removed by school staff the day it was discovered.
Morristown police and school officials are investigating.
“I want to make it clear that (the Lamoille South Supervisory Union) condemns all acts of hatred, bigotry, racism and intolerance of any kind,” said Tracy Wrend, the school superintendent. She praised the quick action of school staff in removing the graffiti and Morristown police in investigating who’s responsible.
“We believe it was an isolated incident,” Morristown Police Chief Richard Keith said, with teenagers or young adults the main suspects.
School response
If the act was committed by Morristown students, they could face school discipline, in addition to whatever police and the courts pursue, Wrend said.
“Expressions that are hurtful, hateful and in this case anti-Semitic are not acceptable,” Wrend told the Stowe Reporter on Friday, and she will work with students, teachers and residents to use education as a tool to ensure it doesn’t happen again while being “supportive of those who are hurt by this kind of behavior.”
“We take our role as educators seriously,” Wrend said, and the staff at Morristown’s schools will “continue to teach and reinforce respectful, responsible behavior and help ensure that our learning environment is welcoming and safe for all.”
Wrend urged “any member of the community who has related information to share what they know with Morristown police.”
Anyone who may witnessed the vandalism, or has information about it, is asked to call Morristown police at 888-4211.
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