Police Investigating Racist Graffiti at Ridgefield High School: Update

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Ridgefield High School notified parents Wednesday of two items of racist graffiti on the school's campus found over the weekend.

In an e-mail to RHS parents obtained by Patch, Principal Dr. Stacey Gross wrote that school officials found two items of anti-Semitic and racist graffiti on an outside area of campus over the weekend. One of the items was a swastika, and the other was racially biased, according to Gross' email.

"That type of behavior does not represent the type of school that we strive to be — a school where there are no second-class citizens, all are free to come and enjoy their day, and every student and staff member receives the benefits of civility and human kindness," wrote Gross.

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Gross told Patch that the matter was referred to the school's resource officer. Ridgefield Police Capt. Jeff Kreitz told Patch that the department has been notified about the graffiti and that it is investigating the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the department at 203-438-6531.

"I ask that you join with me in working towards putting an end to this behavior by addressing it when you witness it, confiding in an adult when you know of it, and never participating in it," wrote Gross.

In a later message to parents, Superintendent Dr. Karen Baldwin condemned the presence of the graffiti.

“We will not allow our school to become a platform for hatred and intolerance of any group," wrote Baldwon."Furthermore, we will not be bystanders to humiliation, and we will not be silent to the suffering of others.”

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You can view Gross' full letter below:

Good afternoon. I would like to take a few moments to share information regarding an incident that occurred on our campus this weekend and provide you with a clear statement of the values and beliefs that are imbedded within our work together as the Ridgefield High School community. We discovered two items of graffiti on an outside area, highlighting both anti-Semitic and racist sentiments. One item was a swastika. As a reminder, the swastika was a symbol of superiority and power used by Adolf Hitler to legitimize the Holocaust – a genocidal event that resulted in the death of 11 million people, including 6 million people of Jewish ancestry. The other, as I stated, was racially biased. I wish to emphasize that those who create such statements serve to offend all of us in our Ridgefield High School community and this will never be considered acceptable behavior.

I know that you understand that these acts, and similar ones towards any group, attempt to weaken our conscience, poison our spirit, and destroy the freedom of all of us. They are actions intended to demean and diminish members of our community, the people that we live side by side with every day of the school year. That type of behavior does not represent the type of school that we strive to be – a school where there are no second-class citizens, all are free to come and enjoy their day, and every student and staff member receives the benefits of civility and human kindness. I know that you join with me in saying, “We will not allow our school to become a platform for hatred and intolerance of any group. Furthermore, we will not be bystanders to humiliation, and we will not be silent to the suffering of others.”

I ask that you join with me in working towards putting an end to this behavior by addressing it when you witness it, confiding in an adult when you know of it, and never participating in it if encouraged to do so. We will continue working with faculty, students, clubs, and the student government to explore ways to address and prevent these types of behavior. Our partnership with the Anti-Defamation League and their NAMES Day program and additional professional development provided for our staff serve to further this cause. Helen Keller once said, “The result of education is tolerance” -- which simply means giving to every other person every right that you claim for yourself. I trust that you will accept the challenge associated with doing the right thing and help to create the world in which we all want to live -- a world where we have respect for each other and protect each other.

Thank you for your attention and support.

Check back with Patch for updates.