Swastika Incidents Spark Outrage at Wealthy California School District

Multiple swastika graffiti incidents at schools within the Ross Valley School District in Marin County, California, have ignited anger among Jewish parents who allege a pattern of inadequate responses from district officials. The latest incident, a swastika scrawled on lockers at a middle school, marks at least the sixth instance of antisemitic graffiti in the district since 2020.

Parents have voiced frustration, stating that the district's handling of these incidents has been insufficient, leading to a sense of neglect. "The system is failing us, and it feels like without a real shake, it’s just going to be kind of like some nice words. We’ve heard many nice words and a lot of verbose statements," said Yair Levin, a parent with two children in the district.

The most recent incident occurred just last week, and a swastika was also found on the grounds of Brookside Elementary School, where two students were cited in a possible hate crime for allegedly scrawling "I hate Jews." Parents reported taking matters into their own hands, including organizing a reward to help identify perpetrators.

Records indicate that at least two swastika incidents between 2020 and 2023 were not immediately reported to police or communicated to parents by district officials. One incident in February 2020 at Brookside Elementary involved chalked swastikas, which the district mentioned in a newsletter, suggesting it was likely drawn by a teenager and would be addressed with class discussions. In 2021, a parent reported finding a swastika on pavement at Brookside, noting that children nearby referred to it as "art."

"The thing that is so frustrating that I’ve dealt with at the schools since 2019 is that there has been incidences over and over, and they haven’t dealt with it properly, in my opinion," said Dani Cohen, a parent in the district since 2019.

In late 2023, a swastika was drawn in the dirt on a baseball field at White Hill Middle School. According to Diana Masarsky, who withdrew her daughter from the district, students were reportedly asking each other "Are you a Jew?" during this incident. School co-principals condemned the drawing and racial slurs, stating that those involved would face discipline and that law enforcement was notified. They also mentioned students were participating in an "anti-bias lesson" series.

Many parents stated they learned about these incidents secondhand. "Honestly, not surprised," said Masarsky regarding the district's communication. "They just quickly try to sweep it under the rug, minimize it."

Following increased parental pressure and media attention, Ross Valley School District Superintendent Tyler Graff addressed the recent incidents in an Oct. 17 letter to parents. "I understand the community frustration and share it, especially given this is the fifth incident of this kind on district property since 2019," Graff stated. "Swastika graffiti is antisemitic, hateful and unacceptable in our schools."

Graff pledged to implement explicit education on antisemitism, invest in security cameras, and review the curriculum. He noted that for the Brookside graffiti, the district took swift action and is treating the incident seriously, though he declined to specify disciplinary actions due to student privacy laws. He committed to incorporating more Jewish perspectives into the school library and curriculum after meetings with parents.

"The feeling is that we’re not seen, and we’ve been talking for years, and it’s as if now the school decided to come and to look into it a bit more, because we as a team kicked up a storm because we were so upset," Levin commented on the district's recent engagement.

For some families, the repeated incidents and the perceived slow response have led to significant distress. Masarsky, whose grandparents were Holocaust survivors, stated, "I never imagined that I would have to worry about the safety of my Jewish children in Marin County in 2026."