Mark Murray, City Marshal
4 Green St.
Newburyport, MA 01950
Newburyport Public Schools
Susan Viccaro, Superintendent
70 Low St.
Newburyport, MA 01950
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Newburyport Police and Schools Respond to Apparent Racist Message Penciled on Elevator
NEWBURYPORT — Superintendent of Schools Susan Viccaro and City Marshal Mark Murray report that authorities are investigating and responding to what appeared to be a racist message found scrawled in pencil on an elevator at Newburyport High School Tuesday morning.
A staff member at the High School reported to Principal Michael Parent that they saw the message shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday. A single, racially vulgar word targeting black people appeared to be written inside the elevator, though the writing was very sloppy and the word was only about 2-inches in size. The penciled message appeared to have been there for some time, as posters and notices had been placed partially covering the slur, and it was uncovered after posted materials were removed.
The message was documented and removed, and the Newburyport Police Department was notified and is investigating. The message did not contain any threats and did not target a specific person.
“Though this appears to be an isolated incident, I am very disappointed that someone would write a racist remark in the high school. Newburyport has a progressive and inclusive school system, and this kind of ignorance sends an unwelcoming message to others,” Superintendent Viccaro said.
The school department is working with the Mayor Donna Holaday’s Commission for Diversity and Tolerance to determine an educational and corrective course of action to prevent such acts of intolerance in the future.
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