York Region District School Board confirmed that several images of antisemitism and anti-Black racism were found in two schools in Newmarket, Ont.
Cecil Roach, associate director of education for the York Region District School Board, confirmed the incident in a letter on Wednesday.
“In the secondary schools, images of a swastika and the N-word were etched in bathroom stalls, and in the elementary school, a swastika was drawn on an interior door,” he said.
Roach said the school is investigating in hopes of identifying the “wrongdoers” and holding them to account.
“We are disappointed that these incidents have occurred in our schools, and we recognize and apologize for the hurt and harm that such incidents can cause,” he said.
Const. Laura Nicolle, a spokesperson for York Regional Police, told Humber News that the incidents happened at Newmarket High School and Huron Heights Secondary School.
“Officers are investigating these incidents and are working closely with the schools,” she said.
She said police responded to a report of anti-Black graffiti carved into a stall in the boys’ washroom on March 4, at Newmarket High School. Three days later, cops returned to the same school after two carvings of antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ graffiti were found on the front of lockers.
Officers were called at Huron Heights Secondary School after graffiti was found in the boys’ washroom on March 8.
“The graffiti included several drawings, profanities, and male genitalia, as well as some possibly anti-Black and anti-Semitic graffiti that has been partially scribbled over,” Nicolle said.
Licinio Miguelo, spokesperson for York Region District School Board (YRDSB) told Humber News that the schools contacted York Regional Police and have removed the offensive material.
“We were disappointed to discover that some of our schools in the community of Newmarket last week and this week were targets of antisemitic, anti-Black racist, and homophobic vandalism,” said Miguelo.
He said YRDSB’s inclusive school and community services will take additional steps in the community and has also notified agencies and leaders that support Jewish and Black communities to be transparent and provide support for students.
“While these incidents are very upsetting, they are occurring in a school board that is explicitly committed to championing equity and inclusivity,” said Miguelo.
There is no confirmation that the three new cases are related to the incident that took place at Charles H. Best Middle School on Feb. 8 and in several other Toronto schools.