Bethesda

Walt Whitman High School Vandalized with Antisemitic Graffiti 

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Police are investigating a report of a vandalism that occurred at Walt Whitman High School at 7100 Whittier Blvd in Bethesda on Saturday morning.

Whitman High School principal Robert Dodd wrote the following in a message to the Whitman community: “I want to share information with you regarding an incident that took place today and how it is being addressed. It was reported, this morning, that there was antisemitic graffiti; the words “Jews Not Welcome” written on our school sign. This behavior is abhorrent, extremely hurtful, and will not be tolerated at Walt Whitman High School. We immediately notified the Montgomery County Police. who are actively investigating the incident. In addition, if found to have been committed by an MCPS student, this incident will be addressed as a disciplinary matter in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding with county police and in alignment with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct.”

According to Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass, a swastika was also found recently at Montgomery Mall. “Another act of antisemitism in Maryland. Today it is graffiti outside Walt Whitman High School. Yesterday it was a swastika at Montgomery Mall. MCPD is aware and investigating. My heart is breaking. We must end the rise of Jew hatred in our community” Glass wrote on Twitter.

Councilmember Kate Stewart also released the following statement on Saturday morning: “The appearance of unambiguous, hateful Antisemitic graffiti on the sign of Walt Whitman HS-with the added context of being two nights prior to the first night of Hanukkah, during Shabbat-is egregious and intolerable in our county. This isn’t the first hateful graffiti at Whitman, but together as a community, we must make it the last. I call on MCPD to hold the perpetrators accountable and on MCPS to highlight the dangerous history of Antisemitism in accordance with long standing curriculum as students return to classes.”

Feature photo courtesy of @cmkatestewart on Twitter.