Danvers Middle School Meetings After Yet Another Swastika Found

DANVERS, MA — Danvers Superintendent Lisa Dana said students at the Holten Richmond Middle School were to take part in a series of educational meetings on Friday after a swastika was found in a middle school bathroom for the second straight week.

Dana said in a letter to the school community that Friday's meetings were designed to "educate students about the significance of the swastika and what it symbolizes both from a historical perspective and modern context."

She said content from the Anti-Defamation League was to be used in the educational meetings.

Last week, school and town officials issued a joint statement condemning racist and antisemitic graffiti — which included two swastikas — found in the bathroom at the same school.

"We took appropriate student disciplinary actions in accordance with our student handbook," Dana said of the previous incident. "We were extremely concerned that another incident of antisemitic graffiti occurred when a swastika symbol was found in a student bathroom.

"At this time, we do not know who did this and why," she said late Thursday afternoon. "We condemn this hate crime and want to be clear that this type of hateful and discriminatory behavior has no place at Holten Richmond School or any other Danvers Public School."

Dana commended the student who reported the latest incident.

"HRMS administration and police are investigating and will take appropriate disciplinary and/or legal action in addition to providing counseling and therapeutic support," Dana said.

The recent graffiti has occurred as the town wrestles with accusations of racist and homophobic hazing within the high school boys hockey program in 2019 and 2020.

The Danvers Human Rights and Inclusion Committee is joining with the Danvers Interfaith Partnership on Saturday to host what they are calling "a townwide affirmation in response to homophobia, racism and antisemitism in the town of Danvers."

The "vigil for prayerful witness and healing" is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. at the town library gazebo.

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(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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