Two swastikas etched in wall at New Jersey high school
Police are investigating after two swastikas were found etched into a wall at a New Jersey high school.
In a statement, police said that they were investigating the antisemitic symbols found on the wall of a lavatory stall at Westfield High School. The President of the Board of Education, Amy Root, and the Principal, Mary Asfendis, both condemned the “disturbing” antisemitic vandalism.
Ms Root said: “I am very disappointed that there are those in our community who fail to understand the serious impact caused by these hateful symbols.” She added: “We will continue to look for ways to reinforce the message…that hate will not be tolerated.”
In an email to parents, Ms Asfendis said that the symbols had been “promptly removed” and added: “This act of antisemitism is disturbing as we work each day to…teach our students that hateful words and acts are inexcusable.”
Noting that Westfield students had recently led a “community conversation on antisemitism”, she said: “We need to engage in more of these dialogues, at home and in school, to help others understand the power of that symbol of hate, and the pain that it continues to cause.”
Despite how upsetting it was, said Ms Asfendis, it was the act of an individual and “does not represent who we are as a community or that we tolerate any acts of hatred, antisemitism or racism at Westfield High School.”
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Image credit: Google