GLOUCESTER, Va. (WAVY) — A second investigation is underway concerning racist messages left on bathroom walls in two schools on the Middle Peninsula — one in Mathews County and now one in Gloucester County.
Only on 10, we have photos of what has led to the investigation. Twice in less than two weeks, there has been racist graffiti found in bathroom stalls at schools, with a threatening message against African Americans.
These were the messages found at Gloucester County’s Peasley Middle School in a sixth grade bathroom Friday:
“I hate ‘then the N word,'” redacted by the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office, and “N’s Need to DIE.”
A similar incident was reported at Matthews High School just nine days before this, on Jan. 10.
Gloucester County Public Schools released a statement concerning racist graffiti found on a bathroom stall.
Dear Parents and Staff,
Earlier today, we were notified of a deeply concerning incident at Peasley Middle School involving racist graffiti on a 6th-grade bathroom stall, depicting a threatening message toward the African American community.
Gloucester County Public Schools unequivocally condemns discrimination of any kind. We are actively collaborating with the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office to thoroughly investigate this incident, and the perpetrator will face disciplinary consequences.
Our commitment to a safe and inclusive environment is unwavering. We understand that questions may arise, and we assure you that the school division will work closely with the sheriff’s office to complete a thorough investigation, hold the perpetrator accountable, and reinforce the universal ideals of diversity and inclusivity among our students.
We appreciate your support as we navigate through this, emphasizing that such behavior has no place in our school community or society at large.
Sincerely,
Dr. Anthony Vladu
Division Superintendent
“I think it is absolutely deplorable that in 2024 we are dealing with these issues in Gloucester County where we are very much minority,” said Brenda Dixon, former president of the Gloucester Branch of the NAACP.
The writings were discovered Friday, according to Gloucester County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Vladu.
“These kind of comments have no place not just in education, but in our country,” Vladu said. Think about education, we are an embracing place for all, so you hear these comments your heart stops.”
Dixon finds the two racist events on the Middle Peninsula demoralizing for the children in the school.
“78.5% of the county is white, so when you hear about racist events … you always feel like I’m trying to catch up,” Dixon said. “I’m trying to feel just as good as anybody else, and when we do things like that, it demoralizes you, it dehumanizes you.”
Hate Crime?
Dixon thinks what happened at Peasley Elementary and Mathews High School rises to the level of a hate crime.
“It is a hate crime,” Dixon said. “Call it what you want, they have not said that in words that it is a hate crime. … Absolutely, I think this is a hate crime. It absolutely is.”
10 On Your Side asked Vladu whether he thinks the racist graffiti is a hate crime.
“The first thing is investigating who, what, when, where the facts are — absolutely critical,” Vladu said. “We are also collaborating with the [Gloucester County] Sheriff’s Office to apply all local policies, school board policies, state and federal laws. So, it is too early to tell right now because we still need the basic facts.”
The Sheriff’s Office began its investigation Monday and will use camera surveillance in the area of the bathroom where the writings were found.
Dixon is hopeful the who ‘dun nit’ is revealed.
“Yes, both are hate crimes,” Dixon said, “and should end up needing to be prosecuted on that level. They need to make a statement.”
It’s unsure if the Gloucester case is a copy-cat of what happened first at Mathews High School. Dixon has an opinion on that.
“If it is a copycat crime, then it’s even worse,” Dixon said, “because someone says, ‘Hey, this is a good idea. Let’s do it.'”
Racism demoralizes you
Dixon also pointed out that when minority individuals see the racist attacks, it demoralizes them.
“It dehumanizes you,” Dixon said. “Makes you know that no matter how much education you get, no matter how much money you get, no matter how big a house you get, if you are a minority, you are still inferior … and that is wrong.”
Dixon spoke highly of Vladu who agrees additional training is needed.
“Actually, training,” Dixon said, “and there are additional things that we need to do, not just to monitor student behavior, but to get to the bottom of this horrific statement that was made, that has really affected our community in a very deep and severe way.”
Dixon also thought that it’s no secret … that students who would write racist graffiti have learned to do it somewhere.
“It is learned behavior,” Dixon said. “It is learned behavior from parents, and it is generational, and it grows and grows and grows.”
And there is reassurance from the top guy in the school system.
“Here’s what I want people to know — I just want to reassure our community that this is unacceptable,” Vladu said. “We condemn it in the strongest terms possible, and that I will commit to really providing more information as it becomes available.”