Staff at Monticello High School and the Monticello School District are working with members of the Wright County Sheriff’s Office after racist graffiti was found in a boys’ bathroom on campus.
According to reports, the graffiti was found etched into a bathroom stall, and used racist epithets and a swastika symbol, often embraced by white supremacists.
The school is working with the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, who provides a School Resource Officer on campus. The deputy serving as the SRO said the graffiti was placed in a spot that was difficult to monitor. The incident likely happened Friday and was discovered Monday, May 8, and reported to staff.
The restroom was closed and the graffiti was immediately removed.
The school district took time to reassure students from all walks of life, issuing a statement.
“Monticello High School welcomes all students and works hard to create a culture where individuals are respected and valued. We have taken this situation seriously and are working with our students and families to promote positive behaviors and a supportive environment,” said Monticello Superintendent Jim Johnson in a statement.
It’s the second notable incident of racist graffiti in the Wright County area this year, with the most notable incident happening in Delano in mid-March. That family, whose house was damaged by vandals, left the community.