School officials and police are investigating the recent discovery of a swastika in a Lenox Memorial Middle and High School classroom in the Berkshires

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Nazi Symbol Found in Massachusetts High School

December 20, 2024

School officials and police are investigating the recent discovery of a swastika in a Lenox Memorial Middle and High School classroom.

The antisemitic symbol was found scrawled on a whiteboard in one of the high school classrooms, said Principal Jeremiah Ames. He sent out a message to families and other members of the School Committee on Thursday evening.

“Tragically, this appears to have occurred very recently,” Ames stated, “leaving us without the benefit of thinking it was an older act that went unnoticed. We take this matter very seriously and have conducted an extensive investigation.”

The probe, conducted with close involvement by Lenox Police School Resource Officer William Colvin, included reviewing dozens of hours of security footage, interviewing everyone who recently accessed the classroom, and speaking with custodial staff, tradespeople and our faculty to uncover any context of similar incidents.

Colvin documented all details, sharing them with neighboring communities in case this is part of a broader trend, Ames said. The incident also was reported to the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires.

“We have an investigation open and we are working hand in hand with the school as we often do,” Lenox Police Chief Stephen E. O’Brien told The Eagle. “We will investigate and see if a crime was involved.”

There are no leads, Ames said in an interview. He had been optimistic that with numerous cameras in the building, the timeline had been “nailed down.” After interviewing all the students in the classroom, “I was sure we would find something, but we came up empty, and it was very, very frustrating, very mysterious,” he said.

The incident apparently occurred early last week, he said, and the investigation has been ongoing and intensive since then.

“While this incident frustrates, angers, and disappoints us, we must remain focused on its impact,” he wrote in his message. “Acts of hate and bias like this harm members of marginalized groups in our community. No student, regardless of background, should feel threatened or unsafe in their learning environment.”

In the Western world, the swastika represents a symbol of the German Nazi Party starting in the 1930s through World War II. The symbol remains in frequent use by neo-Nazis worldwide, including in the U.S.

“This unwelcome incident is not indicative of the Lenox School Community, the beliefs we hold, or our aspirations to be the place where students, staff, and families experience a sense of belonging,” Lenox schools Superintendent William Collins wrote in a message to The Eagle. “I can guarantee you that our student body and staff, almost to a person, finds this sort of hatefulness as distasteful as I do.”

Ames urged anyone in the school community affected by the incident or any other hateful messages to speak with a school counselor or a trusted adult.

And he warned of harmful consequences for whoever is responsible.

“You have hurt and offended members of our community,” he said, “and you have violated the values of respect, tolerance, and inclusion that we hold dear.”

Ames urged any community members with questions about the incident or suggestions for combating bias, or who need additional support, to reach out to him at the school.

“I encourage everyone in our community to remain vigilant and to report any incidents of antisemitism to the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires,” Ames stated. “Together, we must continue our shared commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all.”

Source: https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/central_berkshires/lenox-high-school-swastika-investigation/article_fb5486a0-be5b-11ef-8641-c7b106263c0f.html

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