The Beverly Hills Police Department continues its investigation Tuesday into a swastika that was drawn on the sidewalk outside an elementary school in Beverly Hills hours before the start of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year.
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The Beverly Hills Police Department launched its probe on Monday after the Beverly Hills Unified School District obtained surveillance footage of a man drawing an image on the ground outside El Rodeo School, according to the district.
The swastika has since been removed.
"This hateful symbol was visible just steps away from a campus where students, staff, and families arrive to learn and feel safe. Antisemtism is not abstract, it is real, and it continues to show up in ways that are meant to intimidate. We want to be clear: hate of any kind is not acceptable," BHUSD officials said in a statement.
The school district, in coordination with the police department, has released images of the suspect in hopes of generating assistance from the public in identifying and locating the perpetrator.
"Every student deserves to come to school without fear," BHUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss said in a statement. "Our district will act with transparency, responsibility and care when hate harms our community. Your safety is our priority."
Significant improvements in safety have been made in recent years across all four of the district's campuses, including enhancements in surveillance, emergency training and formal threat-response procedures, according to the district.
BHUSD officials said they will conduct further assessments to determine whether additional reinforcements are needed and will continue updating the community as the investigation progresses, reaffirming their mission to ensure every student feels safe, seen, and supported each day.
"We want every family to know that we do not condone hate of any kind. Every act of hate harms our shared values and undermines the safety every student deserves," the statement said.
Alumni of the school located near The Beverly Hilton include actor- turned-director Rob Reiner and 12-time Olympic swimming medalist Dara Torres.
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