Danvers Middle School Racist Graffiti: 'It Will Not Be Tolerated'

DANVERS, MA — A week of tense reaction and reflection about accusations of past racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic rituals within the high school hockey program escalated in Danvers on Tuesday when two swastikas and other hateful graffiti was found scrawled in a bathroom at the Holten Richmond Middle School.

Town and school officials said in a letter to the community that police were informed of the latest incident and they are investigating.

"This hate crime and type of hateful behavior has no place in our Danvers Schools or any place in our community," said a joint statement from school and town officials. "It will not be tolerated. We are incredibly disappointed that this type of behavior has occurred in our school and understand the frustration in our community."

During Monday night's School Committee meeting, there were calls for resignations and a motion from School Committee member Robin Doherty to put Superintendent of Schools Lisa Dana on administrative leave following a front-page Boston Globe story that detailed accusations of ritual hazing with the use of sex toys within the hockey program.

(READ: Passions Soar As Danvers School Committee Talks Hockey Charges)

While School Committee members defended an extensive investigation process and "appropriate" discipline — and how privacy concerns restricted officials from publicly revealing too much information about the details of the accusations — most parents who spoke expressed frustration that the district was not able to provide effective oversight or transparency on the consequences for the actions for players and perceived inaction of coaches.

Dana and new Danvers High Principal Adam Federico outlined steps the district has taken to support and educate students on issues of diversity and inclusion.

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Officials allowed, however, this incident at the middle school indicates there is a long way to go.

"We are acutely aware that this most recent incident fits into a broader pattern," officials said on Tuesday, "both within our schools and within our broader community that includes allegations of racial profiling at a local business, an apparent noose left outside a local church, an investigation into racist and homophobic behavior last year by student-athletes, a Confederate flag flown in our downtown as part of a political rally and a swastika discovered in the woods behind the middle school.

"We want to be clear in our condemnation of these acts, actions and allegations. Individually, they are ugly, unacceptable and have no place in Danvers or any other community. Collectively, they are proof that there is much work to be done."

Town Administrator Steve Bartha, School Committee Chair Eric Crane, Superintendent Dana and Human Rights and Inclusion Committee Chair Dutrochet Djoko issued the joint statement.

Officials said they "implore" residents to assist the district "to help us in recommitting to kindness and dignity."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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