“Islamophobic, racist, and violent graffiti” was discovered on an outside wall at Walt Whitman High early Friday morning, according to County Councilmember Will Jawando, who strongly condemned the incident.
According to Montgomery County Police, an officer assigned to the school in Bethesda was made aware of the vandalism at 7:22 a.m. and a report was taken. The matter is under investigation, and police do not have any suspect information.
Whitman Principal Greg Miller sent a letter to the high school community saying he was “both troubled and disheartened” about Friday morning’s discovery of the words ““F*** Muslims, Nuke Palestine”, with a star of David symbol graffitied on the school building.” He said the message was “profoundly offensive, threatening, anti-Palestinian, and Islamophobic hate speech” and called it “completely unacceptable, hurtful, and will not be tolerated at Walt Whitman.”
The message was covered up quickly, and the maintenance department submitted a request to have it permanently removed from the wall, Miller wrote.
Montgomery County Public Schools administrators and the county police department are reviewing security camera footage as part of the investigation.
Miller praised the individuals who reported this incident and asked anyone with information to contact the school administration, the police non-emergency line at 301-279-8000, or anonymously through the Maryland Safe Schools Tip-Line at 1-833-632-7233.
“Starting today, I will meet and engage in conversations with student leaders, staff, and community members to outline ways we can come together and promote healing. Furthermore, we will utilize spaces like OneWhitman to engage in conversations and continue our learning on methods to confront and combat incidents of hate,” Miller wrote.
Councilmember Andrew Friedson issued a statement after learning of the graffiti.
“I was horrified to learn early this morning about Islamophobic hate at Whitman High School, which I condemn in the strongest possible terms. I have been in communication with Montgomery County Police, MCPS and the Board of Education, Principal Gregory Miller, and Muslim community leaders.”
He thanked police and the school for quickly cleaning up the graffiti, adding, “I hope those responsible will be held accountable and stand in solidarity with students, parents, faculty and community members in speaking out in no uncertain terms against this unacceptable act of anti-Palestinian hate, and all forms of bigotry. It is on each of us in Montgomery County to ensure that hate has no place here.”
Jawando also issued a statement, noting, “I am outraged by the vile, hate-filled graffiti discovered today at Walt Whitman High School. The messages, which included calls to ‘Nuke Palestine’ and other explicit slurs against our Muslim community, are a direct threat to the safety and well-being of our students. Hate has no place in Montgomery County.”
Jawando, whose children attend MCPS and who is the chair of the county council’s Education and Culture Committee, said, “I find it unacceptable for any child to walk into a place of learning and be met with calls for the obliteration of their people or their faith.”
Jawando added, “To our Muslim and Palestinian neighbors: You are welcome here, and we stand with you. We will not tolerate the dehumanization of our students or their families. Our schools must be a safe space for every student, and I remain committed to the ongoing fight against Islamophobia, racism, and hate in all its forms.”
Guila Franklin Siegel, chief operating officer at the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, “unequivocally condemns this vile act of hate.”
She also said, “Any violence or threat of violence against Muslims, Palestinians, and other Arabs is always wrong.”
Councilmember Evan Glass also issued a statement. He called the graffiti “deeply disturbing and unacceptable. Montgomery County is a community built on respect and inclusion, and hatred toward any group has no place here.”
He added, “Hate targeting students and school communities is especially harmful and will not be tolerated. With Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaching, I believe this moment demands that we recommit ourselves to Dr. King’s call for justice, dignity, and nonviolence, and reject hatred in all its forms.”
County Executive Marc Elrich said he was “deeply disturbed,” adding, “I stand in solidarity with our Muslim community.”
Photo courtesy of Will Jawando’s Facebook page
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