Montgomery County Schools Targeted by Antisemitic Graffiti

Montgomery County, Maryland, is investigating a series of antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ+ graffiti incidents that defaced four public schools, including Wootton and Winston Churchill High Schools, on Monday. This follows a similar incident at Bethesda Elementary School the previous week. The graffiti included swastikas, the word 'Hitler,' and inflammatory phrases like 'Israel bomb schools,' which have raised concerns within the local Jewish community. Officials from the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington noted the targeted nature of the vandalism, occurring in areas with significant Jewish populations and near synagogues. Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Taylor condemned the acts, emphasizing the need for supportive resources for affected students, while the police have yet to identify any suspects. The incidents are seen as part of an alarming pattern of hate that exacerbates tensions amidst ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.