Montgomery County Police released photos Thursday of three males considered persons of interest in connection with the spray-painting of antisemitic graffiti on a wall and the side of the roof at Greenwood Elementary School in Brookeville.
The “antisemitic graffiti was painted on the wall of our school near the kitchen entrance and on the metal covering near the building’s roofline. Using an expletive, the graffiti expresses anti-Israel sentiment, including references to Israeli leadership and an image of the Star of David. In a separate area along the roof line, there was additional harmful language,” Principal Jennifer Seidel wrote in a letter to school families on May 2.
On May 2 at 3 a.m., three individuals were photographed on surveillance video leaving the school on Gold Mine Road, according to police.
Several officials condemned the incident on social media.
On Facebook, Gov. Wes Moore wrote, “I unequivocally condemn the antisemitic graffiti at Greenwood Elementary School in Olney; such hate has no place in our schools or our state, especially as we begin Jewish American Heritage Month. Ensuring my people feel safe where they live, work, worship, and learn remains my greatest priority. Our administration is working closely with local authorities to combat this hate and stomp out antisemitism in all its forms.”
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin also posted about the incident. “This antisemitic graffiti at Greenwood Elementary School in Brookeville is profoundly disturbing. We’re all holding the students and Greenwood community close as authorities continue to investigate another intolerable act of antisemitic vandalism.”
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington issued a statement condemning this incident as well as similar hate incidents. “Over the past few months, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has experienced a deeply troubling pattern of antisemitic and/or anti-Zionist incidents. These include anti-Jewish and anti-Israel graffiti on school walls, most recently at Greenwood Elementary School this weekend; inflammatory anti-Israel messaging at Olney Elementary School’s recent culture night; “Heil Hitler” gestures and speech occurring at middle school events; and, most worryingly, physical threats and harassment directed toward Jewish students at multiple schools.”
According to the JCRC, it receives “significantly higher” antisemitic incidents at MCPS than other surrounding school districts.
