In an updated statement on their website, officials at Lakeville Area Public Schools have revealed that the student responsible for defacing the school district’s property with racist and anti-Semitic graffiti earlier this week is “non-Caucasian” and has “significant special education needs.”
On Monday, staff at Lakeville South High School reported someone had scrawled offensive messages and drawings on the door of a bathroom stall. The disturbing graffiti read “Hail the Klu Klux Klan,” as a well as another racial slur containing the n-word alongside two Nazi swastikas.
The crime was immediately politicized on Twitter.
A number of journalists and public personalities, including Shaun King and Sarah Silverman, denounced the act as racially-motivated and part of the wave of hate crimes that swept the country after the inauguration of Donald J. Trump.
However, after obtaining authorization from the student’s parents, school officials debunked their assumptions by revealing that the perpetrator was actually non-Caucasian and has severe learning or physical disabilities.
“While this does not excuse the student’s actions, the district believes it will help the community and others put this incident into perspective,” school officials said in a statement.
District officials also explained how the incident was very unfortunate and does not reflect the values or community at Lakeville South High School (LSHS).
“We take these matters seriously and strive to create a safe, welcoming environment for all students in our schools,” the district had said in an earlier version of the announcement.
LSHS student support staff and cultural liaisons were made available to students who wished to discuss the traumatic episode.
The student behind the graffiti will still be subject to disciplinary action under the school district policy.
