Town of Acton Residents,
We deeply regret to be writing yet another statement expressing our sadness over a hateful act occurring in our town. On the first day of school this August 2022, two swastikas were found drawn in the elevators of the new Boardwalk Campus building. These antisemitic symbols have appeared in different school campuses multiple times and are not only hateful, but disruptive to the school environment.
Every student, faculty and staff member has the right to feel safe in their learning and teaching space, and these acts have hurtful impacts that impair people’s ability to focus and feel comfortable in their spaces. This new building should represent a new start in our district, yet it is already subject to the hateful symbols that we’ve tried so hard to rebuke. Although this building has been graffitied, that does not mean that we should sit back and allow these disrespectful acts to continue. We can respond to this with love for our neighbors, Jewish or otherwise, and promote a culture within our town that demonstrates support for one another, because these actions should matter not only when they affect us personally, but also those with whom we live in community. We express our full support and will continue to advocate for our beloved community members impacted by this heinous act.
Sincerely,
Acton Diversity Equity and Inclusion Commission