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San Ramon school and police officials are investigating after racially charged graffiti was reported at California High School twice during the past week.
Both incidents involved slurs targeting African-Americans written in marker on bathroom wall tiles, one occurring last week and the other on Monday, according to district spokeswoman Elizabeth Graswich.
A Cal High student Tuesday afternoon admitted to being responsible for the first incident, Graswich said, adding that “appropriate school disciplinary action will be taken” and the police investigation is ongoing.
Police and school administrators also continue their investigation into Monday’s graffiti incident, according to Graswich.
The vandalism prompted principal Sarah Cranford to send a message to Cal High parents and coordinate classroom visits for herself and school administrators to discuss the situations with students Tuesday, according to Graswich.
“Please know that we take all such reports very seriously and investigate them thoroughly,” Cranford wrote in her email to parents Tuesday. “We will not tolerate harassment of any kind on our campus.”
San Ramon police’s school resource officers and investigations division are aware of the graffiti case and are working to gather information, according to Officer Becky Chestnut.
The initial incident was reported to school officials last Wednesday, after a student told a teacher about a social media post that showed racist graffiti in a male restroom purported to be at Cal High, according to Graswich.
School officials searched all bathrooms but the graffiti wasn’t found, Graswich said. They subsequently confirmed the graffiti did actually occur at the campus, she added.
The second graffiti was reported Monday, and the message was found in a female restroom, documented and removed, according to Graswich.
The graffiti incidents are “incredibly disappointing” because the Cal High community strives to promote inclusion and cultural understanding, including hosting a “Breaking Down the Walls” program less than a month ago to signify unity and engage students in creating a positive school climate, Graswich said.
Cal High officials are also talking with student groups about the incidents, and they hope to continue the conversations about showing unity and promoting cultural understanding on campus now and going forward, Graswich added.
“It’s very important for the district that our students and staff feel safe in our schools,” she said.
Let’s please allow the police and the school to make a proper and thorough investigation and give due respect to those trying to do their job and find the culprits and take appropriate and swift action. Let’s not have undue influence on the school administrators or the district administraton to take an alternate path based on pressure from parents. Sometimes the hardest things and the right things are the same.
It is all around us and in all forms…
By Bradford Richardson – The Washington Times – Monday, October 24, 2016
Students at the University of California, Berkeley held a day of protest on Friday to demand the creation of additional “safe spaces” for transgender and nonwhite students, during which a human chain was formed on a main campus artery to prevent white students from getting to class.
The demonstrators were caught on video blocking Berkeley’s Sather Gate, holding large banners advocating the creation of physical spaces segregated by race and gender identity, including one that read “Fight 4 Spaces of Color.”
Protesters can be heard shouting “Go around!” to white students who attempt to go through the blockade, while students of color are greeted with calls of “Let him through!”
C’mon Dave – don’t be coy. Dog whistles just ain’t what they used to be. Why don’t you come out and tell us exactly what you’re trying to say, instead of posting a link to a slanted right wing story from the Unification Church’s “newspaper.”
It not only saddens me that events like this happen in our town, but then people like “Dave” attempt to justify it through backwards logic.
I currently am teaching my students about the history of civil rights in America, and I’m so sad that topical news stories like this still come up. That is why learning about events of the past is important. You don’t understand how truly horrific this sort of graffiti is until you realize its roots in the past. You also probably would understand why a comparison made by someone like Dave is so off base.
Teacher,
I think Dave was just trying to point out that it happens everywhere, I don’t think he is trying to justify it.
And regarding the “horrific” graffiti, will you be discussing the ” horrific’ way in which whites were not allowed to pass at UCB? I would be terrified if that happened to me.
In my opinion, this is much more horrific than the word “colored”.
Either way, both are wrong.
Well did the culprits get positively I’D as “white”? They could be Asian, Latin, hell it could be blacks trying to start a sh*t storm. With no further info its “whites”….bullsh*t!! Just sayin….
The comments here are alarming and ignorant. I didn’t realize how many racists live in the San Ramon/Danville area. Stay in your little white bubble folks. We don’t want you anywhere else.
Ashamed,
Really don’t see any ignorant comments here, except maybe from the teacher. Not sure of your comprehension level.
Dave wrote that it is all around us, he stated a fact. Then he quoted the Washington Times.
Don’t be so overly sensitive.
If you really want to get picky, look at the song lyrics on the students iPhones. I would guess that a lot of it promotes raping women, stealing, drugs, and killing police.
Compare those lyrics and culture to one incident of thousands that happen daily in US high schools, and then you can try to debate.
In relation to the ‘Teacher’s’ comments – there is nothing ignorant about informing students of our past so that they are not ‘ignorant’. It has not been that long since Jim Crow laws were in effect and the abhorrent graffiti we saw at Cal High was institutionalized in America. It has not been long since the fascist populism being spewed by Trump and some of his supporters led to the Holocaust.
In relation to ‘Dave’s’ comment about “It” is all around us. There is nothing clear or factual about that statement. What does “it” refer to? When Trump says ‘Make America Great Again’ – what does that mean? ‘Silent Majority’? I think being purposely vague is the definition of a dog whistle.
However – in relation to the story cited, the video is troubling. I believe they took some pleasure and satisfaction in making those they view as privileged feel disadvantaged. But if those protestors were informed of their history, they would know how many young white people supported and led the civil rights movement and how fighting for one’s rights does not mean denying others their rights.
As Michelle Obama noted, when “they” go low, “we” go high. “We” as a society should promote common decency for our fellow citizen, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or identification, or religion. White, black, brown, yellow; gay, straight; catholic, protestant, muslim, jewish – I think you all get the point.
Its not just about political correctness – its not being overly sensitive – its called being a responsible citizen and decent human being. Treat your neighbor how you would like them to treat you. Trump should not be an example for our children or us for that matter.
” Cal Bear”: Yes, good old Michelle Obama, who liberals love to parade around like she is Mother Teresa, with her ” When they go low, we go high” jingle. The same Michelle Obama who during the 2012 primary said this of Hillary Clinton: ” If Hillary can not take care of her own husband and her own house what would she do in the Whitehouse”. Was that going high, Michelle? Now she acts like Hillary is her long time best friend. She is as phony as Obama claim that Obamacare premiums would go down but of course we just learned they are going up on average over 25% and in some states like Arizona over 100%.
Well Resident3 I think you’re calling me stupid by saying you weren’t sure of my comprehension level. If you don’t have a good response insulting other people is the next best thing I guess. I don’t believe I’m overly sensitive but I do speak out when I see what I think is inequality. You then go on to mention that song lyrics that have nothing to do with anything. Are you implying the songs are racist? Living in the “bubble” for over 20 years I observed a subtle undercurrent of racism coupled with elitism. But it was never so blatant as these latest incidents at Cal High. Resident3, All Lives Matter and Resident5 appear to be defending these acts so now we know who is raising these kids to be racist. And to All Lives Matter who says how do we know it was whites that committed this vandalism I think even you see the absurdity in that statement. Get out of the “bubble” sometime and you’ll find there’s a whole world out there with a diverse and interesting population.
Cal-Bear, do you honestly think when Michelle Obama says, and Clinton repeats “When they go low, we go high”, they actually follow their own words? Come on now, let’s all be honest with each other!
And to tell you the truth, I really don’t understand your post. Nobody said anything bad about learning history. Seriously, what is your point about Trump and the Holocaust?
A police investigation???? Seriously?
Just because some kid writes a naughty word on a bathroom wall?
What a joke.
@Marie – I do actually – but regardless of whether they really believe it or not, I do think they know it is a more effective strategy. Most people don’t like the ugly side of things. Republicans & Democrats a like.
Cal-Bear, sorry, but I’m still confused. Do you honestly believe that Clinton is trustworthy, and in your words, “promotes common decency for our fellow citizens”?