Markham schools hit with more disturbing graffiti

York Regional Police investigating after school was vandalized a second time.

Thestar.com
Sept. 11, 2017
By Noor Javed

Disturbing graffiti was found, once again, at two Markham schools on the weekend - adding to a spate of hateful vandalism that York Region has seen over the past few months.

York Regional Police were called to the Markham District High School and a nearby elementary school early Monday, after an anarchy symbol and "Death to cops and Nazis" was found written on the school walls. Pictures of the graffiti were circulating on social media, before the school board had it removed.

In late August, police found anti-Semitic messages and racial slurs, including swastikas and "KKK," spray-painted on an exterior wall of the same Markham high school and on playground equipment at two elementary schools.

Constable Andy Pattenden, a spokesman with the York Regional Police official, said there has been a noticeable increase in offensive graffiti in the region in recent months.

"There seems to be an increase," said Pattenden. "Obviously social and political factors are at play…Our investigators are working diligently to determine who is behind this." Investigations into the graffiti are continuing, he said.

School board officials said caretakers found the graffiti and immediately called the police.

Cecil Roach, superintendent of education, equity and community services, said the school sent out letters to families Monday informing them about the graffiti.

"We encourage our schools to talk about it," said Roach, referencing letters sent last week by board officials pledging to make schools "inclusive and safe spaces" for staff and students and to "name the hate" when it is seen.

In June, three youths were charged with mischief for painting hateful graffiti, including homophobic statements, on the walls of Woodbridge College, a high school in Vaughan. The youths, all 17, turned themselves in.

It's unclear if they were students at the school because they can't be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Just last week, the message "Hitler was right" was found sprayed along Highway 400, first in Vaughan and most recently near the Aurora Rd. overpass, near a school.

Pattenden said this graffiti was even more disturbing, given its high visibility along the highway. Police are still investigating the incidents.