Wayland High School Investigates Racist Locker Room Incident Targeting Black Student

Wayland High School is investigating a racist incident where a yellow plastic "children at play" street safety figure was found hanging by a belt from a ceiling pipe in the boys' locker room, wearing the football jersey of a Black student. The act, described by Principal Allyson Mizoguchi as a "centuries-old symbol of hate and racial violence," caused significant distress to the targeted student and the wider community. The students responsible have been identified, and the school is committed to accountability and supporting those affected. Superintendent David Fleishman emphasized that such hateful acts violate the district's values and will not be tolerated. Wayland Police are treating the incident as hate-based and are collaborating with the Anti-Defamation League, with a community meeting planned to address the incident further. Counseling and support services have been made available to students as the investigation continues.