County Executive Marc Elrich Comments on Bias-Related Vandalism Found at Various Schools Across the County

County Executive Marc Elrich has commented on the recent acts of bias-related vandalism found at four schools across Montgomery County on Monday. It can be seen in full below:

“Across Montgomery County on Monday, teachers returned to school to prepare for the start of the school year next week. Unfortunately, some were greeted with hateful messages and political language spray-painted around campus.

Graffiti featuring antisemitic language, swastikas and slurs targeting the LGBTQ+ community were found on four school campuses. The schools targeted by vandals were Churchill and Wootton High Schools and Fallsmead and Strathmore Elementary Schools.

In an email to parents and a message to the community, MCPS leaders called the graffiti “politically charged.” This comes on the heels of similar incidents last week at and near Bethesda Elementary School and Congregation Beth El.

One incident might be shocking, but the repetition of these acts is a serious problem. People are entitled to their opinions, and there is no lack of places to express them, but defacing property and targeting schools and houses of worship is not acceptable.

Since Oct. 7, we have seen a number of incidents targeting Jewish, Muslim and other communities. While graffiti is the most common incident, we have received reports of harassment, aggressive and hateful language targeted at protesters, and even reported assault. None of these incidents are acceptable, and we will not tolerate hate targeted at any community.

It is especially troubling that many of these messages are targeted at young people, who we already know are struggling in the aftermath of COVID-19 and the social/emotional challenges that it created. Inciting hate doesn’t help.

This is a challenging time for our diverse communities, and it is more important than ever that we come together and stand in solidarity against hateful messages and graffiti. One positive example of this is an interfaith letter written by Rabbi Greg Harris of Congregation Beth El asking everyone to come together and stand in solidarity against such acts. Since Wednesday this letter has already gained 90 signatures, representing a wide range of our diverse faith communities. In a time of such division, it is inspiring to see so many communities standing together and finding common ground.

I would like to thank Rabbi Greg Harris and Congregation Beth El for turning a negative situation into a positive example of building bridges, and I would like to thank all the faith leaders and communities who have come together to sign this letter. It’s not too late to sign on to this letter, and I would encourage all faith leaders and houses of worship to also add their name in solidarity. You can view the letter at Interfaith Response to Vandalism.

All hate incidents and graffiti should be reported to the Montgomery County Police Department’s non-emergency line at 301-279-8000. A monthly summary of hate/bias crimes is provided by the Montgomery County Police Department. You can find those summaries here.

These are disturbing acts that seek to divide our community. There is nothing to be gained by doing this, other than to inflame the current situation and turn neighbor against neighbor. This is not who we are.

Hate has no home in Montgomery County.”