Community to rally against hate after racist graffiti found at Southie school

BOSTON — The community is gathering outside the Tynan School in South Boston Friday morning to stand up to hate after racist and threatening messages were found scrawled on school doors earlier this week.

A custodian on Wednesday discovered the hateful graffiti painted on several areas outside of the school. They included threats against African Americans, racial slurs, and the letters “KSW,” which stands for “Keep Southie white.” Logan Thompson, the custodian who found it, is new to the school and black, and he believes the graffiti was targeting him directly.

“I’m not a familiar face, I’m new to this building,” Thompson said, “The previous guy was a native of Southie and you know…they don’t know me yet.”

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The community will show support for Thompson, beginning at 7:30 a.m. with a rally outside the school. Students, parents and community and city leaders are all expected to attend.

"They could be trying to scare me away, but I'm not going anywhere. It's my job, I love it here," said Thompson, after the graffiti was found.

Community rallies against hate after racist graffiti found at Southie school Community rallies against hate after racist graffiti found at Southie school

The police are searching for the suspect and the Boston Police Department's civil rights unit is investigating. Police Commissioner William Gross said it could move to the federal level.

"The Boston Public Schools does not and will not tolerate hatred, discrimination, or bias of any kind. BPS treasures the cultural diversity of our community, which includes young people and adults of an extraordinary array of racial, ethnic, religious and other identities."

- BPS interim superintendent Laura Perille.

Parents have been notified and BPS Behavioral Health staff and school psychologists are on site at the school.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said the person who wrote the message should be ashamed.

"What we saw today on the walls of the Tynan School is horrifying and heinous, and a complete misrepresentation of who we are as a city. Racism and threats of this nature will not be tolerated in our schools or in the City of Boston. To whoever wrote this message, you should be ashamed for spreading this message of hate where our young people go to learn. Boston is a place that is welcoming & inclusive of all. Boston Police are conducting an investigation & any individuals involved will be held accountable."

The Boston Teachers Union said in a statement that the incident was a "violation of our community's values," and said educators would not be deterred from their mission:

"All of us at the Boston Teachers Union stand together with the Tynan Elementary School community to condemn hate, racism, and threats of violence. The words and actions targeted towards this school are a violation of our community's values. The hateful words directed at members of our school family deeply affect us all -- no child, staff member, or educator should ever be the victim of threats, harassment, or any form of hate. Our educators will never be deterred from our mission of ensuring our schools and communities are places where everyone feels welcome and safe."

Racist graffiti spray-painted at South Boston elementary school Racist graffiti spray-painted at South Boston elementary school

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