Graffiti Threat Closes Loyola Blakefield School In Towson

TOWSON, MD — A disturbing piece of graffiti caused an all-boys school in Towson to close for the day, according to the Baltimore County Police Department. Police and school officials are working together to investigate.

Authorities said that Loyola Blakefield administrators alerted police Wednesday upon finding a "potentially threatening racist remark" that had been written in a bathroom stall on campus.

The graffiti, found in Burk Hall, "suggested that no one of color should attend school on 'Thursday,'" police reported.

As a precaution, the executive staff decided to cancel classes at the Catholic boys preparatory school in the 500 block of Chestnut Avenue on Thursday, Dec. 14.

"We are heartbroken and outraged by this attack on the respect and dignity of members of our community, especially our African American members who were targeted by this hateful message," Loyola Blakefield President Anthony Day said in a statement issued Thursday. "We will discover who did this, and they will no longer be part of our community."

The administration told police that it was not the first case in which derogatory graffiti was found on campus. Previous incidents were handled by the school.

But Loyola Blakefield Principal John Matinacci deemed Wednesday's racist graffiti "escalated in nature," and staff notified law enforcement, police said.

The school issued a statement on social media Thursday condemning the act.

"We will not hide from acts of hatred and bigotry," the school posted on its Facebook page. "We will stand together."

Here is the statement from Loyola Blakefield:

Image via Google street view.