Police investigating swastikas found in Swampscott school

SWAMPSCOTT-School officials and police are still investigating anti-Semitic graffiti found in the boy’s bathroom at Swampscott Middle School on Feb. 8.According to School Resource Officer Rose Cheever, two Swastikas approximately 3.5 inches high were drawn in black indelible marker on the walls in the boy’s bathroom.?We’ve had other incidents of graffiti at the middle school this year but this one is particularly disturbing because it is anti-Semitic,” she said. “It is currently under investigation and no arrests have been made yet.”Middle School Principal Ralph Watson said a letter was sent home to parents on Monday notifying parents of the incident.?We’re taking this very seriously,” he said. “We are working to find out who did this. This is not a one-time incident and it’s not just a school issue. It’s a community issue.”This is not the first incident of anti-Semitism at the middle school. In May of 2007, a student told school officials a classmate had made an anti-Semitic remark, which was interpreted as a threat. In the past few years there have also been numerous incidents in town including hate literature being left at area homes, vandalism at a synagogue and a vehicle belonging to a synagogue was torched.Watson said he is working on instituting programs to teach respect for human differences.?We need to create a more tolerant community in the school and community,” he said. “When I was in Medford we had a “Day of Respect” that was very successful. On Monday, Feb. 25 we will be meeting with students, staff and parents to start discussions on diversity and tolerance.”Robert Trestan, who is civil rights counsel for the Northeast region Anti-Defamation League, said incidents of hate have to be looked at because name calling on the playground and Swastikas in bathrooms can escalate. “The school responded quickly,” he said. “It sent a message that this type of behavior won’t be tolerated.”