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Superintendents throw support behind Wayland school leader after racist graffiti incident

WAYLAND, Mass. — Standing together in solidarity, more than a dozen superintendents from districts in Norfolk, Middlesex, and Suffolk Counties made a bold statement Thursday, condemning the racist graffiti found in Wayland Wednesday.

“This was not a reaction to a school district policy or decision, rather as a district leader of color, this was an attack on who he is,” said David Lussier, superintendent of Wellesley Public Schools.

Wayland Superintendent Dr. Omar Easy was the target of the racist slur spray painted next to his name by the community pool next to Wayland High School.

“Behaviors like this are just unacceptable,” said Dr. Omar Easy. “It not only sends the wrong message to our young people of color, but every one of our students is deeply impacted by this, so this love and support that’s here right now in front of you I think this is the message we want to continue to push forward.”

This latest attack comes after two other school leaders were targeted just last week.

In Concord, a parent was arrested for making a violent threat toward superintendent Dr. Laurie Hunter, and in Quincy, a racist message was found in a bathroom stall targeting the principal of Quincy High.

“What we tell our children is we’re not going to cover up what we used to do, years ago we might literally whitewash the graffiti and try to move on, we’re not doing that anymore, we’re going to call out racism, we’re going to call out violence,” said Dan Gutekanst, superintendent of Needham Public Schools.

“This is unacceptable on any terms no matter what parents and kids are going through, but the antidote is to create that belonging for everyone, so if we rise up in this way against these actions, we are going to create the bond that will make everyone feel better and more included,” said Anna Nolin, superintendent of Natick Public Schools.

Police are still looking for the person or people responsible for the racist graffiti found in Wayland.

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