Antisemitic graffiti was found in Gordon Parks Arts Hall by a middle school student Jan. 14. 

The graffiti was immediately removed after a picture was taken of it. The middle school community discussed the incident at their weekly remote assembly, and on Jan. 25, the rest of the Lab community was notified about the incident by an email signed by Laboratory Schools Director Tori Jueds, middle school principal Ryan Allen and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Nicole Williams. 

The graffiti consisted of a message in pencil on the back of one of the columns in Gordon Parks Arts Hall. It consisted of two lines: “X: You support Hitler? Y: ‘Yes’.” This message has been interpreted by the school as an act of bias and antisemitism. 

The email aknowledged the rise in antisemitism in the United States in recent years. 

Ava Eggener, president of the Jewish Students’ Association, said that the club was pleased the school had a thoughtful, serious response, but they were disappointed that the school had only addressed the Jan. 15 Colleyville, Texas, synagogue hostage crisis and the rise of antisemitism as an afterthought to what had happened at the school.

“It was a little disappointing that the response only came when we saw this happening in our own community,” Ava said, “and not when it was happening to people in our country.” 

Ms. Jueds said Lab will continue to ensure an experience of belonging for everyone through diversity, equity and inclusion programs that will help teachers approach difficult discussions and widen their curriculums. 

“My interpretation and that of my colleagues is that this was an antisemitic message that is deeply troubling for our Jewish students, my Jewish colleagues and the faculty and staff, the Jewish families in our community,” Ms. Jueds said. “It’s offensive to them and it’s concerning on their behalf. And indeed for all of us.”