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. ]

Washington Post

77 Thoughts to “Sinclair School Vandalized by Hate/Racial Symbols”

  1. Rick Bentley

    It’s relatively serious vandalism.

    It’s not a hate crime though or really a big deal.

  2. GainesvilleResident

    JustinT :Stupid kids. This just means kids are picking on the general vibe that is taking over the right wing of the right wing.

    This is ridiculous to inject politics into this. It has nothing to do with right wing or left wing.

  3. Chris

    Rick their message was hateful. It might not be a hate crime. I will tell you this I know two of these punks are, and trust me their hearts are full of hate. I’ve heard the racial slurs they call people. True they were probably trying to get attention, but that is NO reason to just dismiss this as punks playing a prank or just being stupid. These fools should concern our community. This should not be downplayed. imho

  4. Congregation Ner Shalom is hosting an International Day of Prayer for Peace, specifically “For the Healing of the Community” at 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 13. The synagogue is located at 14010 Spriggs Road in Dale City.

    The congregations of Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park are invited to bring their unique voices to this interfaith gathering of prayers for peace.

    Congregation Ner Shalom is extending this invitation to everyone in the community at the start of the Jewish High Holy Days Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

    This event has been in the planning for months, but seems especially appropriate after the recent vandalism/hate incidents on school property in the city and county this summer.

  5. Another role model for ignoring hate speech and doing something positive for the community, reprinted from Habitat for Humanity’s weekly e-newsletter:

    A Brush With Kindness Rolling On

    Last Friday, 8/21, volunteers from the Jeanette Rishell for Delegate campaign returned with other regular volunteers to the Malaty home worksite. The hearty crew, Afton Schwalm, Jessica Baker, Ashley Baker, Kelli Akremi, Jeanette Rishell, Steve Fedos, Chris Dorick, Sam Dorick, Frank Jacquette, Veronica Sharma, Andrew Cole, Amanda Piter, Ilana Kaplan-Shain, Marlena Kauer, Daniel Pitman, Kendall Vingua, and Monica Hunanratti safely removed the deck, put the remaining debris into the roll off and worked on the wiring in the tool shed. Lunch was provided by Traci DeGroat.

  6. Moon-howler

    Thank you, Chris. It is important that the truth come out. Knowing that some of these kids have hate motivating their behavior simply cannot be dismissed or winked and nudged away. Anti tries to deal with facts and I thank you for not letting this incident be explained away by those who do so for political reasons.

    I thank you for always putting your community over cheap politics.

  7. Mando

    “Anti tries to deal with facts and I thank you for not letting this incident be explained away by those who do so for political reasons.”

    How about those that use it for political reasons? What’s your take on them? You have quite a few of them here.

  8. Moon-howler

    I do not see this as a political issue at all. I have tried to present the facts.

    Political issues are one thing. I agree. There are people here with political motivation. I would say you fit into that category, Mando, and that is fine.

    Community events are quite another. At some point we have to decide whether to serve the community dealing with facts or attempting politics as usual.

  9. Chris

    Thanks Moon. I love my community and would never let politics get in the way of the truth. I’ve had to deal with two of them right here before personally and they are very lucky I was willing to call the parents in the middle of the night as opposed to PWCPD. I do want the truth to be told, but at the same time they are minors and their identity should be protected. However, if people knew some of the stupid shit they have around here in WestGate/Sudley/Loch Lomond they would not be so willing to dismiss this incident as a your everyday prank.

    Rick, these fools roam the streets of your neighborhood too. I’m just wondering how do you think you and your family would feel if next week they decided to take up “cross burning”? Small potatoes today, bigger potatoes tomorrow. I ask this because you’ve stated more than once your wife was a person of color. Please, think about what I’m saying.

  10. Mando

    “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.”

    News stations and political activists salivate over swastikas. They promise high ratings and political ammunition. I find that as ominous as the hateful (useful?) idiots painting or planting them.

    And PWC and Manassas have always had that distasteful reputation. Earned or not, it predates this and that blog by decades. You’re a fool if you blame anything that has happened in the last few years for it.

  11. Mando

    “Political issues are one thing. I agree. There are people here with political motivation. I would say you fit into that category, Mando, and that is fine.”

    Perhaps, but I find it suspicious when you choose only to call out Rick, I, or others with similar philosophies. That does not lend well to your claim of being impartial.

  12. Moon-howler

    I never claimed to be impartial. Personal politics are just that.

    However, when dealing with community events I make every effort to stick to facts where facts are called for. If opinion is involved, it is clearly marked as such.

  13. Mando

    “Picture of vandalism to sod. The kids, 1 black 3 white teenagers spelled out KKK, White Power, and layed out a swastika.”

    I don’t get it. Am I the only one that sees one doesn’t belong? Last I checked, there are no white Black Panthers and there are no black KKK members.

    I’m not saying Chris is wrong in saying they should be punished, but I don’t think the black community should be fearing lynchings and cross burning in their neighborhoods.

    4 thugs motivated by ignorance. All races have right to fear them.

  14. Chris

    Mando, I don’t think anyone should fear those things. I’m just saying it’s a possibility. Small crimes lead to bigger crimes. Would you argue with that point? My only point was these kids could very well go on to bigger crimes.

  15. Mando

    I’m with you Chris.

    But there are others here more worried about using this for political ends. Swastikas are good for that.

  16. Moon-howler

    Mando, are you asking why a black kid was mixed up in this? Who knows. Self-loathing? Trying to fit in? Out-numbered? Maybe they ran out of sod before they got to his message?

    No one is saying that black community should be living in fear. Other ethnic groups have been victimized by the KKK and Nazis. These things are insidious.

    Actually a self professed Klansman used to live very close to where this incident happened. He bragged about it all over town. No fear.

    Do you really want that kind of thing in your community is the question. I sure ran when I saw Mr. KKK coming towards me. I wasn’t afraid of him, I didn’t want my organization to be associated with him. People like that soil and sully the reputation.

  17. Moon-howler

    No one on THIS blog, to my knowledge, has used this sod incident for any political motive. It is a neighborhood issue.

    Mando, you have the wrong blog. White screen here.

  18. Mando

    I’m saying this was not racially motivated. Just plain old thuggery.

    “Do you really want that kind of thing in your community is the question.”

    Um yeah… Don’t we all??

    “No one is saying that black community should be living in fear.”

    Not yet but they’re chomping at the bit to do so. Like when they said the Spanish community should be living in fear. I think the one black kid was the fly in their soup. You have a nutty and wrongly motivated few here. Disagree?

  19. Mando

    “White screen here.”

    White screen/dark screen. One’s a carbon copy of the other. Both politically motivated. I don’t see much different other then the way they swing.

    “No one on THIS blog, to my knowledge, has used this sod incident for any political motive.”

    Seriously?

  20. Mando

    Elena/ShellyB would be ALL over this if it weren’t for that one pesky black kid… Tell me it ain’t so. Silence speaks volumes.

  21. Moon-howler

    I doubt very seriously if the black kids matters one iota. This post/thread was up all day before the ethnicity of the kids was known.

    I see nothing political about it. Would it be better or worse if the black kid wasn’t involved? Not to me. It shouldn’t have happened and it wasted county resources, from, moving sod, to the police who had to screw around with the incident.

    Finally, I can’t speak for Elena or Shellyb. I know Elena was not home most of the day. I did speak with her on the phone before she left for the day and her reaction was similar to mine–no community needs this crap.

    To me, it is just another example of kids misbehaving and defacing property. This time it was easier to clean up. As for their sentiment, Chris has confirmed that the kids weren’t just looking for something to say. It was there to start with.

  22. Elena

    Mando,
    I made my comments. Ultimately, they are a bunch of kids and our role as adults is to educate them why this is not a joke not villify them.

  23. Anon

    Considering “the other side’s” take on this, I’m wondering if any of these kids came from HSM homes… anyone know the answer to that one?

  24. Chris

    Anon, interesting question. I would say “anything’s possible” to that. 😉

  25. Parent

    @Moon-howler
    As a parent to one of the children invovled, I can tell you I was definately livid to get that phone call. For those who may imply he didn’t have proper parenting, I must disagree. I did everything I thought I should have including making sure there was a parent home at the house his was staying in. I know those values were not found in my home and he totally acted against everything taught to him. Unfortuntaly, I have learned the hard way “Not my kid” doesn’t always apply. I am neither proud nor do I condone what was done, Trust me when I say he has been reminded and punishment continues everyday. Funny that I read on hear to take him to the Holocaust Museum because I already did that in the spring, maybe he didn’t get a personl message out of but I can guarantee you that he will since I am currently working out getting him a more personal tour with a Holocaust survior, I am sure explaining his actions to that person will be one of the most difficult things he has had yet to do in life so far, but that is fine I hope it will be a character building experience for him. I will not go into my son’s invovlement in the matter, he was there that makes him guilty. I have also explained to him that when you standing by and allowing something like this happen and to do nothing about it, can escalate into much bigger things including the Holocaust and other forms of hate. I refuse to give up on my son and a few of the other FIVE that did this. They are children and I will hope that they have learned the pranks can escalate out of control and hurt many people. I also believe I know who the two Chris is talking about and agree with you wholeheartdly, had I known they were going to be around that night I may not have allowed my son to stay. I will not apoligize for him because those are his actions and HE must be responible for them.

  26. Moon-howler

    Parent, thank you for posting. I have had a few unpleasant phones myself over things I wish my kids had not done. In fact, none of them reached adulthood without someone calling the house over one misdeed or another.

    Good for you for giving him hell. Hopefully he learned a lesson and won’t put his parents through any more shinnigans!

  27. leandra

    i think this is rediculous. my bestfried was expelled because of this? i mean, really? this is some b-s! grow up, they were pulling a little prank! let them off the g-d hook people. their kids, we all are. i wouldda done it too, i mean this area is getting waaaay to over populated with hoodlums and what not. its stupid. the pwcs board needs to grow up… for reall :/

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