'Racist And Sexual' Graffiti Discovered At Fairfield School

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield school officials were investigating last week after racist and sexual graffiti was found in a district middle school.

The graffiti was discovered Friday in a boys bathroom at Fairfield Woods Middle School and was described by Principal Colleen Banick as being “of a racist and sexual nature.”

“The language and depictions discovered were offensive and disgusting,” Banick said in a message to school families. “An investigation is ongoing and anyone involved will be held accountable for their actions.”

Banick, who noted several students alerted adults to the graffiti, provided information in the message about how children could submit tips to investigators or seek support after encountering the language used in the vandalism.

“Discrimination in any form is not tolerated here at Fairfield Woods Middle School or in FPS,” Banick said. “We are working to support those who have been affected by this event. As a school community, we must continue to take a stand against intolerance and treat each other with respect and dignity.”

A district official was unable to provide further details about the vandalism or the investigation.

The graffiti follows an incident in August, when staff at Woods received a racist email from an outside party.

In May, police were asked to investigate two cases concerning racism and Fairfield students. The first involved a Fairfield Warde High School student who was arrested and charged after making a Snapchat post that included a photo of one of his classmates and a racial slur. The second concerned Fairfield Ludlowe High School students and verbal attacks against the brother of the victim from the first incident, the victims' mother said at the time.

Additional racist interactions and graffiti occurred at multiple schools in the weeks that followed.

The district in October hired Digna Marte as its director of diversity, equity and inclusion, a new position created to address issues related to racial, economic and social diversity in Fairfield Public Schools.