Administrators at Sinclair Elementary School arrived at work Tuesday morning to find parking lot vandalism-a new form of grafitti not seen in the area before. Some clown had written KKK and a swastika using grass sod. Serious here folks. The symbols were were spelled out using these organic materials.
A roving blog reporter notified Anti admin of the vandalism early this morning. The incident had been reported on Channel 5 from their helicopter but no video was up at the time of this posting. Insidenova.com broke the story just minutes ago.
On the one hand, the incident is foolish enough that we can blame kids and call it a prank. Removing grass sod is a lot easier than removing paint from the brand new parking lot at Sinclair. On the other hand, hate sentiments, regardless of who places them, cannot just be dismissed as kids playing a prank. Hate symbols are hate symbols. These symbols are not appreciated nor wanted in the Sudley/Westgate neighborhood.
Regardless of why, regardless of who, the incident was criminal in nature and disturbing. Are racial feelings that strong in this community? Why are they spilling out at one of the 4 schools in this neighorhood? When people feel free to blast others for being Hispanic, Black, Jewish and do it in front of their kids, isn’t this the kind of behavior we should come to expect? Perhaps we need to think more before we speak.
[UPDATE: Picture of vandalism to sod. The kids, 1 black 3 white teenagers spelled out KKK, White Power, and layed out a swastika. ]
This is a disgusting story, but one that needs to be told. This is very odd after a poster on a local blog was accused of being anti-Semitic. What the hell is going on in Westgate? These antics are not welcomed in the Gainesville District!!
This vandalism incident is being minimized on the dark screen. No surprise. It is much easier to bully a candidate than to deal with real neighborhood issues.
Ms. Rishell, candidate for delegate 50th district, has been bullied, berated and belittled for her membership in Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church. This church has been attacked , Reformed Jews have been attacked, and it is implied that Christians who practice religion differently from one of the red circles are second class and not real Christians.
Is it any wonder that kids think it is appropriate to make swastikas with grass sod?
I wonder if it would have been so minimized on bvbl if it had been gang symbols instead?
I wouldn’t jump to a whole lot of conclusions based on this.
Some kid painted satanic stuff on grage doors last November? but I don’t think their parents are nevessarily to blame or that the community is rife with satanism.
The only conclusion I have jumped to is that someone, probably a kid, or immature adult, wrote KKK and a swastika using grass sod. Gainesville brings up a good point about gang symbols. Why is one so important and not the other?
I don’t think we can ever minimize using symbols of hate as grafitti. It is unacceptable No one wants that kind of trash in their neighborhood.
What does surprise me is the email I have gotten about the response to this neighborhood issue on bvbl. It started off with anti semitic remarks being made by one of their regulars–slurs about reform Jews. Remarks posted as a response to anti-semitism were taken down. Now the Sinclair incident is being scoffed at and Greg’s attentions are back in the toilet and the attacks continue on Ms. Rishell.
Let me see if I understand this correctly–it’s ok to depict KKK and swastikas on public property but not ok to put gang symbols on private property? Not in my value system. Neither are ok.
Rick, was that the stuff painted on doors in Gainesville? That is also inexcusable. He was prosecuted. He also wasn’t a kid. He was a young adult.
The lesson here needs to be to stay off other people’s property, including public property.
This probably was a bunch of pranksters. However, that does NOT excuse the hatefulness of this vandalism. This makes me sick to my stomach that this could happen in our neighborhood. I hope the little pricks that did this pay and pay dearly. Prank or not the message/symbols are hateful. We as community should be very concerned that we have people in our midst with such a backwoods way of thinking in this day and age.
The culprits have been caught and released to their parents according to newspaper. This from the update.
Police say several juvenile suspects have been identified and are being charged with vandalism. They are all boys from Manassas and are 14, 15, 16 and 17 years old and attend Stonewall Jackson High School. They were released to their parents.
Full update herehttp://www2.insidenova.com/isn/news/local/article/racial_symbols_found_at_manassas_area_school/42030/
http://www2.insidenova.com/isn/news/local/article/racial_symbols_found_at_manassas_area_school/42030/
@Black Velvet Reporter
I am also a member of BRUU, as are several public figures and people pretty high on the government “food chain.”
GL and the gang apparently don’t consider freedom of religion and religious tolerance as part of their creed. Their pastors might want to lend them some guidance on this, IMO.
More hatred…learned and displayed for the world to see. Chris, I am sorry this happened in your area.
Hate symbols using recyclable, organic materials… I’m conflicted… and hope this a trend (vice spray paint).
@Opinion
That is the only redeeming thing about it, that they didn’t use spray paint.
Much easier to clean up, for sure. 4 involved. I wonder if one had to stand on the curb and yell “Green side up” so the other 3 would know what to do?
According to channel 4 the teens were African American. This just makes no sense at all. Clearly, they had nothing better to do. I agree with Opinion the sod is better than spray paint.
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local-beat/Vandals-Mar-Elementary-School-With-Hate-Graffiti-54758902.html
I hope it makes no sense. The only other thing I can think of, I don’t want to think about.
That does not surprise me at all. Frequently with this over-the-top stuff it’s a minority citizen starving for the racism or homophobia that they’ve been conditioned to expect.
One’s black, three are white. All go to Stonewall Jackson. Probably they meant to insult the other high school.
I figured it had to be some sort of ecologically sound individual or group of individuals who lack mental maturity…..kids, liberals, something like that.
That’s a funny way of insulting the other high school that is over on Liberia.
– Bi-racial group
– Using organic material in their “free form” art/statement project
– Footprints show they were wearing Birkenstocks.
Liberals should be pleased.
(Ok, just kidding about the shoes)
Well, you have to respect their diversity!!
And back to the bottom line–putting up kkk stuff or drawing swastikas is not acceptable–regardless of the medium used. It isn’t something to be excused or justified or wink wink nudge nudged off. It is not more acceptable to do KKK or swastikas than it is to belittle others because of their religion.
Yesterday a religion could be called a cult. When a member of that religion complains, their remarks are taken down, vaporized. Today, a swastika goes up in a school yard. I don’t like the pattern I am seeing. No, it isn’t ok. We cannot become desensitized to this sort of thing.
Offensive graffiti or letters are considered a hate incident.
Hate incidents lead to hate crimes and should be taken seriously.
On Aug. 20, vandals left two hate messages on the sign board at Weems Elementary School in the City of Manassas. The sign board is blank now. The police filed a report. If anyone witnessed that incident, call the city police’s non emergency number at 703-257-8000.
@Rick Bentley
Thanks for the clarification. I scanned the article quickly. The bottom line is this behavior is a reflection as to the mentality of some here. This is NOT the kind of sh!t I want to see anywhere, and certainly not a school in my neighborhood.
Swastikas, gang signs, KKK and other forms of grafitti can all be treated legally the same when used to vandalize. They can also be treated as hate crimes. Greg’s little puffed up temper tantrum over on the dark side was hilarious. Wrong Greg. Dead wrong.
So the bully behavior continues. The Anon who got severely chastened on the dark side has no way to tell the Black Velvet King what a horse’s ass he made of himself. Come to think of it, he/she could do it here. I am sure the minions would scurry home with the message, while gouging at gays, political candidates, reform jews, unitarians, and any other group that satisfied the political needs of the red circles.
“ite”
Not that it matters, but apparently only one teen was african american, the other three teens were white.
Part of these kids punishment should be a required supervised visit to the Holocaust Museum.
Perhaps their own private viewing of Mississippi Burning after the Holocaust Museum. One of those old bastards finally went to prison.
I am floored at how many people in Manassas both on blogs and in the newspaper are almost doing the ‘wink wink nudge nudge’ thing over it. Boys will be boys mentality. Are other places this….backward?
I guess it would be the same reaction if they had hit a synagogue.
It’s important to keep in mind, here, that this is not society’s fault. It’s called parenting….and apparently, somebody sux at it!
Parents can’t be with their children every minute of every day. I was brought up to behave and act in a manner in which my family, community,and I could be proud of. I don’t think that happens in every house today. Let’s face, the nuclear family is a thing of the past.
Given the ages of these boys soon to be adults there should be some personal accountablity. It can’t always be blame the parents, teachers, and society. These types of incidents can’t be taken lightly or just discounted as a prank always. The setiment of their statement is hateful, and should be viewed as a hate crime. This was a group of four, and by definition this act could be considered “gang” related activity.
It’s about getting attention… they “won”.
@Chris
I’ll go along with that!
That sounds like a good idea. Probably the parents should be made to go along – they might need a bit of educating too.
I don’t know if it is because of the fact that sod was used rather than something less easily removable as spray paint, or something else – that is causing that odd reaction. It is a bit puzzling. While it may be a prank, that kind of thing inspired copycat activity, and the last thing we need to see is something similar done at another school.
Chris, I have to agree. Slowpoke, you still have a little guy, don’t you? Kids sometimes do things you don’t want them to do. It has very little to do with parenting. The nicest parents in the world can have a kid who does something inanely stupid, when least expected.
Getting kids raised to adulthood is a very humbling experience.
As for getting attention, I suppose they will enjoy that attention while they are doing some sort of community service. While I accept kids do incredibly stupid things, kids have to learn that there are just some things you don’t do. Their antics cost the county money, made the neighborhood uneasy and embarrassed their community.
There are also very few people who didn’t at least smile over the creativity. It reminds me of the day the buses all pulled up at an area school only to see one outdoor reindeer mounting another. Pranksters had stolen them from someone’s yard, given them a new home at a school. As I drove by, there was the female assistant principal out trying to uncouple the reindeer.
Just what we need… a wave of sod-based vandalism spreading out across Prince William County and perhaps Virginia! I’m guessing sod is just an “entry level” landscape amendment which could lead to mulch, compost, and perhaps even manure based vandalism in the future!
You know, copycat “crimes” are generally “perpetrated” if the original gets a lot of attention. That, they are getting. The sooner this drifts off the “front page” the sooner it will “go away” as something others might emulate. Given the options, I would prefer to see vandals spell out slogans in sod (vice some of the other alternatives) and would be happy to provide the materials (and perhaps point out where they might do their landscaping). Now, if we could just get gangs to spell out their tags with flowers…
I expect the county prefers the kids to use sod. Spray paint requires bringing out the sand blasting equipment.
I hope all that sod didn’t die.
Moon,
Can’t argue with you. To do so would be to suggest that I know things about parenting that I don’t think I can know. I only hope that like my father, I can lead by example. But I sense that kids have lost a certain amount of respect that I don’t see parents instilling in them. And quite frankly, it’s a little depressing.
I’m not saying I was a complete angel, but I respected property that didn’t belong to me. I never vandalized, or blew things up with M80s (a particular favorite of many of my friends).
I did crazy stuff when I was a kid, might have even “teepeed” a house on one occassion during Halloween, but this is a very bizarre way to get attention in my book. There are lots of ways to get attention as a high schooler, my question is, “why choose this message” ? Do they think other kids will think it was cool? If so, are we doing that poorly in educating our children why the Nazi’s and the KKK are no laughing matter?
Did I think you could make a joke over of the fact that the kids used Sod, sure, but really, deep down, I don’t think its all that funny. There are so many innocuous messages that could have been written that could have gained attention, WHY choose a double hate message like this?
It’s not the medium, it’s the message. Sod…peeps…doesn’t matter. Viewed by people for whom these symbols mean intimidation and harassment, while others shrug it off as a prank (or a school assignment) in an insensitive manner — that is making it “okay.” It is not okay.
I don’t think this can be compared to a school assignment. The school assignment was authorized. The vandalism was not. No one authorizes vandalism.
It’s not ok… it is something we should let their parents deal with… it shouldn’t be a criminal matter… if poor judgement were a crime we all would be in jail (now and then).
On the other hand, these kids could have been making an artistic statement about how rediculous racest slurs are… and they did a darn “soddy” job of it.
Excellent point, Moon. I don’t feel anyone on this board has excused this behavior/incident. Who knows maybe one(or all) of the parents sent their kid’s over to the school to assist in the “clean up”. I’m not saying it happened, but it could have. Just a little food for thought.
While I don’t condemn parents when their kids do stupid things, I also don’t trust parents to handle situations like this. I like the idea of some juvenile judge scaring the crap out of them and giving them all the same punishment.
And if someone’s parents made them go over and start with the clean up, good for those parents!
Opinion, too bad if the kids were making a statement. Not acceptable. Do on their own property, but I do appreciate your wit.;)
Along the lines of the artist statement possibility. One could think of this as “reverse crop circles” of sorts. 😉
good one Chris. Reverse crop circles says it all.
Slowpoke, I thought I raised mine to be respectful and to do the right thing. I found out a couple of times that I had not accomplished my goals. I learned early on to not say “My child would never …(_____).”
Stupid kids. This just means kids are picking on the general vibe that is taking over the right wing of the right wing.
For all those who thought this was an unimportant event, perhaps it was. However, perception is reality. I saw the story on 3 news stations this evening. Just what we need– more branding. Prince William County and Manassas already have attracted attention for this sort of behavior. There is no point in rehashing old history.
I did hear that the police were not treating the incident as a hate crime. This is good news for those kids. However, a black church or a synagogue might have done the trick, if they wanted to deal with a hate crime on their record. Hate crime confiction can be a real deal breaker.