Hate crime at Meadows Elementary School

Manhattan Beach Police

The City of Manhattan Beach, Manhattan Beach Unified  School District , and the Manhattan Beach Police Department are investigating a vandalism incident that occurred at Meadows Elementary School on July 21. 

On the morning of July 21, MBUSD staff discovered anti-Semitic, racist hate speech, and vulgar images painted across the campus. The graffiti was quickly removed. MBUSD officials are working with  MBPD to identify those responsible. 

“District leaders and school administrations have worked with teachers, students, and parent volunteers to create a culture of care and kindness on our school campuses and to ensure that everyone is included and welcome,” said Sally Peel, president of the MBUSD Board of Education. “We still have far to go toward these goals and we will persist. While we partner with the police and FBI to continue to investigate, it is important for our community to join together and focus on inclusion.”

“This may  look like parents discussing inclusion around the dinner table, neighbors reaching out to express  empathy and solidarity, friends speaking up if they see or hear something discriminatory, extended  family members making a point of sharing their personal determination to be inclusive, and all of us  leading with examples of calm and sincere efforts to build the loving homes and civil community we  want.” 

“Whoever did this, they need to find something better to do because the only thing they accomplished was to show the rest of us how stupid and intolerant they are,” said Mayor Steve Napolitano. “We’re going to do all we can to find them and hold them accountable. Stupidity may not be a crime, but what they did is, and we should all be concerned. We’ve seen far too many things like this lately and it needs to stop. ‘Hate has no home in Manhattan Beach’ isn’t just a slogan or a lawn sign. The City of  Manhattan Beach welcomes and embraces people of all colors, faiths and backgrounds and we  condemn all acts of racism, prejudice and violence.” 

 

MBPD officer Christopher Ineguez said that the investigation is ongoing and encouraged anyone with information to contact police. 

“MBPD is working diligently to identify the hate crime perpetrators,” he said. “The offenders are subject to criminal charges of vandalism and/or acts of hate. At this time, we believe it has no correlation to the  recent Bruce’s Beach ceremony.” 

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is asked to call the MBPD’s anonymous tip line at (310) 802- 5171. Victims of hate incidents can also seek support through LA vs. Hate. This program includes a  network of community agencies that provide prevention, advocacy, and support to victims of incidents of hate. To report hate, please call 211. ER 

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