Oak Park and River Forest High School officials indicated those responsible for antisemitic and racist graffiti in a girls locker room at the school would be reported to law enforcement, among other consequences, if their identities are uncovered.
According to OPRF District 200 Superintendent Greg Johnson, a swastika and the letters KKK, representing the Ku Klux Klan, were found Feb. 11 carved into a bench in the locker room. That same day Johnson and Principal Lynda Parker sent out a communication to all families decrying the graffiti.
“We are disturbed and saddened to inform you that antisemitic and racist graffiti was discovered in one of our locker rooms today,” stated the letter cosigned by Johnson and Parker. “As you’ve heard us communicate in the past, reprehensible words and symbols have no place in our school. This graffiti is unequivocally hate speech, and as such is a crime. Any individuals found responsible will be reported to law enforcement, as well as face immediate and appropriate school consequences.
“This graffiti comes at a time when such incidents are on the rise throughout our country. As a school and a community, we have to be better than this. Every single individual, without exception, deserves to feel respected, valued, and supported in our school. We urge all members of our community to stand with us against hatred in all its forms.”
Thus far officials have not discovered who is responsible for the graffiti.
The graffiti was found approximately a week after Johnson had sent out a letter to students and families titled “Commitment to Our Polices and Values,” stating that OPRF was committed to being a welcoming space for all students.
“The past couple of weeks have been a chaotic and confusing time for public educators,” Johnson wrote. “Executive orders have been issued that, among other things, threaten schools’ ability to recognize transgender identities, educate about race and unconscious bias, protect students and families who are undocumented, and provide free meals to students of low income status. These actions have left many in our school community feeling unsafe, wondering how they and our schools will be affected.
“In this time of uncertainty we want to be very clear: We remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all students and staff. Every single individual, without exception, deserves to feel respected, valued and supported in our school.”
This is not the first time racist graffiti and swastikas have been found at OPRF. In May of 2022 swastikas and the letters KKK, along with racial slurs as well as the words “White Power, We love it” were found scribbled on to the walls of a boys bathroom at the high school.
In 2018 a swastika was airdropped into students phones during a school assembly by a fellow student and racist graffiti was found on the school campus.
Bob Skolnik is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
