Montgomery County leaders speak up against bias-related vandalism at schools, places of worship

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. ( DC News Now ) – Montgomery County officials say four Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) were vandalized with bias-related graffiti Monday.

Now, county leaders say they’re collaborating with the police department and the school district to find solutions to this problem.

Strathmore and Fallsmead Elementary Schools, as well as Churchill and Wootton High Schools, were the four schools vandalized with antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ+ graffiti.

County Executive Marc Elrich said the language used is hateful and upsetting.

“It’s not healthy for the community,” Elrich said. “These acts are disturbing, and the goal is to simply divide our community. There’s nothing to be gained by doing this other than enflam[ing] the current situation and turn neighbor against neighbor.”

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington CEO Gil Preuss says the recurring acts of vandalism at schools and places of worship are infuriating.

“People who decide to vandalize schools with hate-based graffiti know what they’re doing,” Preuss said. “They want to make this as public of a statement as possible where many people will go and be horrified with what they see.”

The Congregation Beth El Synagogue in Bethesda was vandalized twice within the last week. Preuss says they’re looking for ways to enhance security at all Jewish places of worship in the county.

“We created a mechanism called J-Shield, which is a community-wide security apparatus that provides assessments and recommendations about how to improve security, including the use of cameras [and] the use of guards,” he said.

Meanwhile, county leaders are working to find solutions.

“I don’t have enough police to sit on every school property all night long,” Elrich said. “I wouldn’t be able to provide protection to everyone else in the county. We’re going to have to come up with some more aggressive surveillance techniques.”

MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor responded to the incidents in a statement, saying the following:

A number of our schools were illegally vandalized with politically-charged graffiti, antisemitic iconography (including swastikas), and, in some instances, anti-LGBTQ+ language.

Principals are reaching out to their communities to report these instances and to provide the supportive resources necessary to address the harm and anxiety these actions may have caused. The district has reported these instances to the police and will fully cooperate with any investigative needs of our partner police agencies.

We are committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive environment where all students, staff, and caregivers feel safe, valued, seen, heard and have a sense of belonging. We firmly denounce divisive actions that perpetuate hate, inequality, and injustice against any person, family, or community. We must unite to recognize and embrace our differences and not let them divide us.

Dr. Thomas Taylor, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent

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