Ottoson Administrators Find Racist, Anti-Semitic Graffiti in Bathrooms

ARLINGTON, MA—Ottoson Middle School administrators found racist and anti-Semitic graffiti in two bathrooms this week.

In an email to the school community issued Thursday, Principal Tim Ruggere wrote that racist and anti-Semitic graffiti was found in the bathrooms at the school. The school will work with the Arlington Police and Human Rights Commission to address the issue.

Arlington Police told Patch that they do not have any comment regarding the situation at this time. 

Below is the statement issued by Ruggere:

This week, school administrators found racist and anti-Semitic graffiti in two bathrooms at the Ottoson Middle School. We take this extremely seriously as it is behavior that is totally unacceptable in the Arlington Public School community. We are working with the Arlington Police Department and have reached out to the Arlington Human Rights Commission as well. We will be addressing our concerns with students tomorrow and will continue to work with students on many levels throughout the remainder of the year. Our focus will be on the roles for students and adults to play in preventing such activities and ensuring the school is a safe and supportive environment for all. All this work will be an ongoing process that will continually be monitored for effectiveness. We also ask for the active and open support from parents and guardians in speaking with their children about community standards of behavior and Arlington’s culture of openness to all races, religions, and cultures.

Sincerely,

Timothy Ruggere

Principal

Ottoson Middle School

This story is developing, check back with Patch for updates.