We reached out to the Cobb County School District to get a response to the anti-Semitic incidents that took place at Pope High School and Lassiter High School in the last week.
East Cobb News specifically asked if the district would be responding in a broader fashion than the separate investigations that are taking place at each school.
In both instances, swastikas and the words “Hail Hitler!” or “Heil Hitler” were scrawled on the walls of restrooms.
Here’s what a district spokeswoman sent to East Cobb News via e-mail:
“A recent disturbing social media trend involving hate speech is unacceptable and distracting from our teachers’ and students’ ability to focus on teaching and learning. Our principals are engaging with students, teachers, parents, and community members about how to prevent the harmful and illegal behavior from happening. There is zero tolerance for actions that harm individual students, people groups or the school building, and all applicable District policies and laws will be applied.
“We encourage families to talk to their students about the impacts of inappropriate and dangerous trends circulating on social media. Parents, students, or staff members can report safety concerns to the District’s Tipline via call, text or email.”
The statement, published in full, is identical to what was sent to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday.
The Cobb school board meetings that were to have taken place Thursday are being delayed a week in observance of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.
Rabbi Larry Sernovitz of Temple Kol Emeth in East Cobb and the Atlanta office of the Anti-Defamation League have called the district’s response to the Pope incident inadequate.
That was before the incident at Lassiter that was announced Wednesday, just as Yom Kippur was set to begin, and that was concluding on Thursday.
Related stories
- Anti-Semitic graffiti found in restrooms at Lassiter HS
- Bells Ferry ES student named SagerStrong Hometown Hero
- Cobb school board delays September meetings for Yom Kippur
- Pope HS vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti
- COVID outbreaks reported at Addison ES, Rocky Mount ES
Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
