Montgomery County officials stood together Tuesday to denounce race-baiting graffiti at a local church and schools as hateful, anti-immigrant acts in the aftermath of last week’s presidential election.
Residents of the largely Democratic county have been rocked by racist messages and swastikas scrawled in public places, with one citing President-elect Donald Trump. But no arrests or violent incidents have been reported.
In a weekly meeting at the county administration building in Rockville, lawmakers approved Tuesday a measure for training 311 operators and staff in how to report and deal with hate crimes and harassment, including information about legal resources and support services. The County Council and other leaders then held a press conference to address the graffiti.
“We are standing united to say we are a diverse community that believes in the dignity and importance of all of our residents,” council President Nancy Floreen said.
The county has a long history of honoring its diverse community, she said, but residents are fearful after seeing graffiti expressing white nationalist sentiments at a church and two public schools over the past week.
“No matter who you are, where you or your family came from, who you love or how you worship, I want you to know that you are welcome here,” Ms. Floreen said. “Montgomery County will continue to be an inclusive and pluralistic community where all people are treated with respect.”
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County Executive Isiah Leggett, who previously chaired the county’s human rights commission, said he’s heard from residents who have been brought to tears over fears that they will be targeted for harassment or violence. He said the county has come a long way over the last 40 years, but recent incidents have shaken his faith in the county’s future.
“I’ve had a hopeful view about progress that we’ve made, but recently, I can say sadly, I take that back,” Mr. Leggett said. “No one should live in fear.”
Council member George Leventhal said all residents must stand in solidarity with those who are being targeted.
“I’ve been busy trying to keep track of acts of hate in our community,” he said. “Many of our neighbors are experiencing fear now.”
Rep. Chris Van Hollen, who last week won a seat in the U.S. Senate, said the only way to counter the messages was to speak out against them.
“We cannot allow ourselves to be torn apart by these message of hate,” said Mr. Van Hollen, whose congressional district encompasses much of the county. “We must call out hate wherever we see it.”
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Montgomery County has the largest population of foreign-born residents in Maryland — nearly one-third of the county’s 1 million residents. And more than 70 percent of students in Montgomery County Public Schools are black, Hispanic, Asian-American or multiracial.
On Sunday, parishioners at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Silver Spring found a message in black marker reading “Trump Nation Whites Only” on the back of a sign advertising a Mass to be held in Spanish. The phrase also was written on a wall in the church’s memorial garden.
About 80 percent of the congregation consists of immigrants from 50 countries, said Robert Harvey, the church’s rector.
In show solidarity with the immigrant parishioners, the bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Washington attended the 1 p.m. Sunday service.
“I am heartsick, and can only imagine how the people of Our Saviour, one of the most culturally diverse parishes in the diocese, feel,” Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde said.
In another incident, someone wrote “KILL KILL KILL BLACKS” on a bathroom wall at Sligo Creek Elementary School in Silver Spring. County school officials said the message was discovered late last week and was immediately removed.
At Westland Middle School in Bethesda on Friday, school officials sent a letter to parents acknowledging that drawings of swastikas were found in a boys’ bathroom.
“One of our boys’ bathrooms was vandalized with multiple images of swastikas drawn in ink pen, in pencil and with glue stick,” Principal Alison Serino said in the letter.
When she found out about the graffiti, the location was secured, the images were documented and police were contacted, she said. The swastikas then were removed.
“We are very saddened by this incident. This type of behavior will not be tolerated. Once the culprit(s) are identified, consequences will be administered in accordance with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct,” Ms. Serino said in the letter.
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