Message to Families: CRLS Graffiti

Message to Families: CRLS Graffiti
Posted on 12/08/2016
Dear CPS Families,

We are writing to share information about disturbing discoveries of hateful graffiti at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. Staff members discovered graffiti images of a swastika along with hateful language in three different boys bathrooms at the high school. In addition, this afternoon, anti-Semitic graffiti was discovered in two girls bathrooms.

We are taking these incidents very seriously and are working actively with the Cambridge Police Department as part of the investigation. In addition, we have reported the incidents to the Attorney General’s hotline for bias-motivated harassment.

On Wednesday afternoon, high school students, staff and parents were notified about the incidents and the steps that have been taken thus far. A central location was set up at the high school to make counseling support available for students and staff who wanted to talk about the incident. In addition, this morning during an advisory/community meeting period, students at the high school engaged in discussions about the incident with the goals of clarifying facts and talking about next steps for supporting each other and the school community.

We have also spoken with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) about these incidents and our steps are in line with protocols that they have established for responding to hateful imagery and speech. Unfortunately, the ADL has heard many reports of these types of incidents in the last several weeks and months. We recognize that the broader national climate may have played a role in these hateful expressions.

The incident at the high school is an affront to the school’s core values of diversity, opportunity and respect. Please join me in supporting our shared commitment to social justice and compassion for one another.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Salim
Superintendent
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