PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Jewish global advocacy organization is criticizing a school district in Bucks County after a swastika was found drawn in chalk outside a high school last month. The group claims school administrators failed to address the incident until they were challenged at a recent school board meeting.
The graffiti was discovered at Pennridge High School near the end of November. According to the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Pennridge School District didn’t publicly acknowledge the antisemitic symbol until a woman asked about it at the most recent school board meeting on Dec. 2.
“I was wondering if the school could share what the district’s response has been to this incident, specifically if it’s been reported to the police? And if there’s a plan to communicate to the community about what happened and how it’s being addressed?” she asked.
The school’s response came in an email from the principal to the school community a few days later, on Dec. 5. The message said a “symbol of hate” was found outside the school and police were investigating.
The district did not publicly say it was a swastika. This lack of acknowledgment rubbed AJC Regional Director Marcia Bronstein the wrong way.
“It’s a meaning and a symbol of hate, and it needs to be taken seriously,” she said. “You need to address it outright. You can’t hide it.”
Bronstein said it should be a moment of learning for students. In a statement, AJC criticized the district: “While we welcome the investigation into the swastika found outside Pennridge High School, we are concerned that the district belatedly admitted the existence of the swastika, initially telling parents only a ‘symbol of hate’ had been found.
“That ambiguous statement sent the wrong message to Jewish families at a time when antisemitism is at record levels. The swastika is more than a symbol of hate. It represents a vile ideology that calls for the extermination of all Jews. Let’s use this incident as a teachable moment to create education and training programs to recognize antisemitism, call it out for what it is and learn how to fight back against its corrosive message.”
Police and the school district are still investigation. There’s no word yet on any suspects.