Racist graffiti was found on Thursday on the Mira Costa High School campus. The school and the Manhattan Beach Police Department are investigating.
An MBUSD spokesperson told MBNews that the graffiti was on a wall near the Mustang Mall. The district said it could not comment on whether the school’s security cameras caught the incident because the crime is under investigation.
The incident was particularly unsettling because it occurred on a week when celebrations were taking place in honor of Black History Month.
Mira Costa Principal Karina Gerger shared the following message with families on Thursday:
We
are disappointed to share deeply troubling news. This morning, our
campus was vandalized with graffiti containing the ‘N-word’ on a wall
near the Mustang Mall. District staff notified law enforcement
immediately, and a police report was filed. Maintenance and Operations
staff members worked quickly to remove the graffiti.
Racist
language and racism are deplorable and hurtful to our entire community.
These dehumanizing behaviors will not be tolerated. Staff is currently
reviewing video footage to identify the perpetrator(s) who committed
this act. We are asking our MCHS parents/guardians to talk with their
student(s) to see if they know or have heard anything about this
horrible act.
It
is extremely upsetting to have had this happen on our campus,
especially today, when our 11th Annual Black Scholar’s Union assembly
took place, where we honored and celebrated the many historical and
current contributions of African Americans to our society.
We
take pride in our school and the diversity of our campus. I know the
vandalism does not reflect the values of our school, our staff, or the
students we serve. Mira Costa High School and MBUSD strongly denounce
any form of hate and racial intolerance. At Mira Costa, we continually
work to create acceptance and a strong sense of belonging for all of our
students, staff, and families. Most importantly, we are focused on the
well-being of our students and on providing a safe and positive learning
environment for everyone.
We
cannot state strongly enough that the “N-word” is a direct statement of
hate. As a community, we must stand united against such conduct. We
will continue our investigation, working with the Manhattan Beach Police
Department, and update our community as we learn more information.
place on our campuses or community. As a No Place for Hate District, we
honor and celebrate student diversity within MBUSD schools. As Dr.
Gerger stated, we vehemently condemn hate and racial intolerance. We
remain committed to fostering acceptance and belonging for everyone in
our community. It takes all of us to prevent, respond to, and combat
hate.”
The incident is yet another in a string of antisemitic graffiti
and hate messages found at Mira Costa High School and other Manhattan
Beach schools. In February 2023, a hate symbol was found in a Mira Costa bathroom and in 2022, the Manhattan Beach Police Department tallied 10
separate hate crimes, including nine reported incidents of hate graffiti in Manhattan Beach schools.