Racist Graffiti Found Inside Boston Elementary School

BOSTON, MA — Neighbors and officials are decrying racism and showing support for the families and students at a South Boston elementary school after staff came to work to find racist graffiti spray-painted on the building.

Boston Public Schools said a custodian discovered the graffiti, which included racial epithet painted on several areas of the outside of Tynan Elementary School in South Boston.

School officials notified Boston School Police and Boston Police and the Civil Rights Unit of Boston Police Department is investigating.

"The Boston Public Schools does not and will not tolerate hatred, discrimination, or bias of any kind. BPS treasures the cultural diversity of our community, which includes young people and adults of an extraordinary array of racial, ethnic, religious and other identities," said Interim School Superintendent Laura Perille in a statement.

Perille said the school is reaching out to parents and guardians via phone, email, and letters home in the language that families speak at home to inform them about what happened.

Boston School Police will be present at the school today.

"Incidents like this are in no way reflective of the safe, secure, and supportive environment that the Boston Public Schools are committed to fostering, nor the values embodied by our students, staff, and families, each of whom are valued members of our community," she said.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh agreed.

"What we saw today on the walls of the Tynan School is horrifying and heinous, and a complete misrepresentation of who we are as a city. Racism and threats of this nature will not be tolerated in our schools or in the City of Boston," said Walsh in a statement. "To whoever wrote this message, you should be ashamed for spreading this message of hate where our young people go to learn. Boston is a place that is welcoming & inclusive of all. Boston Police are conducting an investigation & any individuals involved will be held accountable."

Boston City Councilor At-Large Michael Flaherty and Boston City Councilor of District 2 Ed Flynn called the finding disgusting.

"We are disgusted, saddened and outraged to see the damage done to our school community and neighborhood - this is not who we are. There is no space for this type of divisive action," they wrote in a joint statement.

Never miss another local news story: Get free local news alerts right to your inbox.

Photo via Google Screen Grab