There's outrage in Simi Valley after a hate incident near an elementary school.
Police say a 14-year-old boy spray-painted graffiti of a lynching on a wall near Oak Elementary along with a racial slur.
“This weekend, in an act of pure cowardice, five, racially-diverse juveniles under the age of 14 were involved in spray-painting hateful graffiti in Simi Valley that is not only disgusting but perpetuates the racist rhetoric that so many want to use to define our community,” City Manager Brian Gabler said in a statement.
Officers say the boy, who is white, was with a racially diverse group of friends at the time, but he was the only one who did the spray-painting.
“Collectively we are stronger and we are better than this. The City Council as a body, and its individual members, condemn racism, racist actions, and hate speech and will not tolerate behavior that perpetuates hate against any individual or group. The voices and experiences of all of the City’s residents are valued and provide the perspectives necessary to building a more tolerant and diverse community.
“The City implores our residents stand with us in condemning this weekend’s hateful incident,” a statement from the city reads.
City officials are condemning the incident.
Police say they'd like to see the boy complete a "cultural awareness program."