NEEDHAM, MASS. (WHDH) - Police are investigating after racist, anti-Semitic, and homophobic statements were found carved into a bathroom stall at Needham High School on Tuesday, authorities said.
Officers responding to the high school spoke with administrators who said the hateful graffiti was discovered in a boys bathroom, according to the Needham Police Department.
We take these matters seriously and respond both with an immediate investigation and long-term use of the school’s curriculum and programming to ensure a safe, inclusive, and tolerant school environment where all students feel respected and connected,” Needham Superintendent Dan Gutekanst said in a statement.
Investigators are working with school officials to identify a suspect.
Gutekanst praised students at the school for alerting administrators to the messages of hate.
“I am proud that we have created a culture of care and concern in our schools where the vast majority of students feel empowered to speak up and speak out about racism, homophobia, sexism, and anti-semitism,” he said. “Our students know this kind of behavior is not OK, and they are helping us take the lead in setting a positive and inclusive tone.”
About 400 students walked out of the school in December 2017 after racist and anti-gay messages were found spray-painted in multiple bathrooms.
In May, a swastika was found on the ground outside of the school.
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