Swastika 'Hotspot' Found Near New Rochelle HS, District Confirms

This story was updated at 11:37 p.m. Nov. 22

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — School officials are condemning the behavior and taking steps to reach out after a hateful personal hotspot name containing the image of a swastika was found to be available near the high school campus.

The school district reaffirmed its no-tolerance policy to racism and promised to open a conversation with students to promote understanding in the wake of the troubling incident, Superintendent Jonathan Raymond wrote in a letter to families dated Nov. 22.

The hateful hotspot name that included a depiction of a swastika showed up on devices as an available WiFi hotspot near the New Rochelle High School campus. School officials were alerted to the hateful images by a student, Raymond said. School officials said they alerted the New Rochelle Police Department, as well as members of New Rochelle’s Jewish community right away.

"Our school district has a zero-tolerance policy for such acts of hate and bigotry, which are in direct opposition to the inclusive values of our school district and community," Raymond wrote. "We encourage dialogue, kindness, tolerance, and empathy — key steps in promoting understanding, while honoring the diverse religious, racial, and ethnic fabric that contributes so much to quality of life in our city, community, and beyond."

Raymond encouraged students to immediately report any incidents of antisemitism or racism they might witness. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," he added, referencing the famous quote.