The Squamish RCMP is investigating after a swastika with an image of a penis was spray painted at the entrance to Don Ross Middle School.
The images were painted above the main entrance of the west side of the school and reported to police Wednesday, Feb. 8, according to Staff Sgt. Jolaine Percival.
“The Squamish RCMP was advised that this is the second incident similar in nature to take place at the school,” Percival said in an email. As was recently reported in The Chief, Grade 9 student Eliyana Stern went public with concerns about racism she faced at Don Ross including being the target of racial slurs such as F*ck Jews.
She and her family have called for action by the school administration to help quash racism at the school.
Nico Slobinsky, of the Centre For Israel and Jewish Affairs in Vancouver said he was upset by the news of the Swastika being painted on a school in Squamish and of the racism Eliyana faced.
“I am appalled by the reports of bullying and discrimination at Don Ross Middle School in Squamish and have reached out to the Stern family to offer my assistance,” he said.
“The school district should show leadership and ensure that this situation is addressed immediately. Every child deserves an educational environment free from discrimination, bullying and harassment. There is no place for anti-Semitism, discrimination or exclusion of any sort in our province.”
In an emailed statement, Sea to Sky School District Supt. Lisa McCullough told The Chief the recent graffiti was reported to police and quickly removed by maintenance workers at the school.
“The RCMP determined that the graffiti had been there for some time and could well have happened some evening or weekend prior to last week’s snowfall,” McCullough noted. “Obviously this is considered very serious by our staff and the local RCMP. This is the first case of graffiti at Don Ross Middle School this school year.”
