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Anti-Semitic graffiti investigated at Atlanta elementary school

Atlanta school police are investigating after someone put anti-Semitic messages in chalk on the playground at Mary Lin Elementary in Candler Park. (Facebook photo via Karen Callen)
Atlanta school police are investigating after someone put anti-Semitic messages in chalk on the playground at Mary Lin Elementary in Candler Park. (Facebook photo via Karen Callen)
By Joshua Sharpe
Oct 5, 2016

An investigation is underway after someone scrawled anti-Semitic graffiti in chalk on the playground of a Candler Park elementary school. It happened over the weekend, on the eve Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year celebration.

“Hail Hilter,” one message at Mary Lin Elementary said.

Principal Sharyn Briscoe sent a letter to parents assuring the swastikas and “hateful language” would be removed before the children returned to school Monday.

“Please be assured that this is not tolerated by Mary Lin or Atlanta Public Schools,” she wrote. “I have reported the incident to the APS Police Department, Facilities, and the Associate Superintendent's Office.”

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The school, which is in a portion of Atlanta that sits in DeKalb County, is located by Freedom Park.

Karen Lasky Callen was biking by with her daughters Sunday when they happened upon the vandalism.

Atlanta school police are investigating after someone put anti-Semitic messages in chalk on the playground at Mary Lin Elementary in Candler Park. (Facebook photo via Karen Callen)
Atlanta school police are investigating after someone put anti-Semitic messages in chalk on the playground at Mary Lin Elementary in Candler Park. (Facebook photo via Karen Callen)

“It is terrible that there are so many groups targeted by hate in our world today,” she wrote on the Facebook page of a local Jewish group, posting photos.

The incident remained under investigation Wednesday, according to the school district.

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