The Clackamas High School principal on Monday found the front doors of the school plastered with Donald Trump stickers and defaced with beans, a derogatory symbol against Latinx people.
Principal Nate Muñoz said the vandalism appears to have started as a senior prank.
But he said the vandals later defaced the front doors with refried and black beans, stickers and other signs supporting the former president, who made multiple racist comments toward and about Latinx people.
In a video posted to Clackamas High School’s Instagram page, Muñoz condemned the hate crime, expressing concern for how it would impact the school’s students and families of color.
“Families, students, staff — I’m sorry. This is not something you should ever have to deal with,” he said. “That type of rhetoric is not welcome at Clackamas High School, ever.”
In the follow-up letter to families, Muñoz said the school is investigating the incident, and plans to file a report with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
Representatives of the senior class on Monday night released a statement, calling the vandalism “an act of hate.”
Matt Utterback, superintendent of the North Clackamas School District, also sent staff a message, stating that the district has a zero-tolerance policy for racism, and asking employees to stand against such acts.
Muñoz said the school would hold forums to hear students’ voices on the incident and continue teaching students about the impact of hate speech.
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