Johnson County school district investigates racist, anti-LGBTQ hate speech on bathroom stall
The Blue Valley school district this week is investigating another incident of vandalism, including hate speech against Black people and the LGBTQ community, found at Blue Valley High School.
Earlier this year, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Blue Valley High football stadium and press box were defaced were swastikas and racial slurs. Four teenagers were charged in the incident.
Then on Monday evening, Principal Charles Golden said in an email to families that earlier in the day students “reported a disturbing collection of statements including hate speech” written on a stall in a men’s restroom. He said the messages targeted Black people, the LGBTQ community and the police.
The vandalism also included a threat, he said, “written in such a way that we cannot be certain whether it is directed against the police or an individual student.”
He said school officials and Overland Park police are investigating and “have taken steps to ensure that the individual student and family are aware.”
Golden said, “Unfortunately, because similar vandalism has happened here before, we know from experience the importance of calling it out for what it is.
“ ... Please understand that we continue to stand on the principle that hate speech has no place at Blue Valley High School. We are one community. Our response in moments like this will always be to continue fostering a culture of respect and responsibility so that every student and adult in our community can feel safe and welcome.”
Officers and school officials, he said, are working to identify anyone involved in leaving the graffiti. If they do, he said they will respond accordingly.
“Our goals are to stop the behavior, and to help our fellow Tiger(s) grow into a better version of themselves,” he wrote in the email. “Parents and guardians, you can help us with these goals. Please visit with your children tonight; remind them how important it is to avoid making threatening statements in any form. Any type of threat — whether said directly, overheard by others nearby, posted on social media, or even written on a restroom wall — can lead to serious school and legal consequences.”
