Historic Black School Defaced: Vandals Fill Exterior With Racist & Obscene Graffiti [VIDEO]
A one-room schoolhouse for African American children during the height of segregation in Loudoun, Va. has been defaced with hate symbols and slogans over the weekend. What was particularly heartbreaking was the fact that the building was currently being restored by volunteer students in order to turn the historic structure into a museum.
The vandals who were responsible for the defacing spray painted swastikas and words such as "White power" on the building's façade. Several offensive cartoons were also spray-painted on the school's exterior.
Authorities have no leads as of writing, but speculations are high that the act of vandalism happened sometime over the weekend. Deep Sran, founder of the Loudoun School for the Gifted, where the historic school is located, stated that the incident has left a very deep gash for those who were involved in the restoration of the building, as well as the community has a whole.
"It was very upsetting. Ideas have power. So I would not deny the possibility that the renewal of conversations about race that we have not had in a very long time, and the divisive language that's being whipped up in this election are relevant. The timing of this attack is revealing," Sran said in a statement to The Guardian.
"Our guess is that it's someone quite local, someone who could walk there in the dark of night. The working theory is that it was juveniles that were involved."
Taz Foreman, a 12-year-old seventh-grade student in the area and who is involved in the ongoing restoration of the historic schoolhouse, stated that he was devastated by the vandalism.
"My heart kind of sank and exploded because I was thinking to myself we've done so much work. How dare these people come and ruin such an important place. It's horrible that they've done it," he said.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, with Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman assuring the public that the police would be doing all it can to get to the bottom of the case.
"The vandalism to the old Ashburn School is reprehensible and will not be tolerated here in Loudoun County. We will investigate all aspects of this," he said.
