School officials in Wayland, Massachusetts, are investigating a racist incident involving a Black football player’s jersey, according to a letter sent to families.
The investigation began Thursday, after a student found a yellow plastic “children at play” sign figure hanging with a belt around its neck in the locker room, wrote Wayland High Principal Allyson Mizoguchi. The figure was wearing a jersey that belongs to a Black student.
“This centuries-old symbol of hate and racial violence evokes deep emotion and has no place in our community,” Mizoguchi wrote.
She said officials have identified the students responsible, though an investigation continues.
“Accountability for those involved and support for those impacted are our priorities as we take next steps,” the letter reads. “I want to acknowledge the devastation, confusion, and hurt that this act has caused for the targeted student and the ripple effects of pain that will be felt by our community in the coming days.”
Counselors will be made available for those who need to speak ot them, Mizoguchi added.
Superintendent David Fleishman also shared a statement with families:
“As you are aware, one of our most critical district goals is to create a culture of belonging and inclusion in our schools, and this racist act violates a sense of safety for valued members of our community and is counter to the values we hold sacred as a district. It is especially troubling to know that a Black football player’s jersey was placed on the symbol of such historical racial violence,” it read in part.
The Wayland Police Department confirmed that they had been notified and responded to the case as a hate-based incident. They are also in contact with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Anti-Defamation League. The Director of Racial Justice Initiatives is in touch with the family of the student who was targeted.
“”No person should ever be subjected to hate speech or discriminatory behavior. This incident is deeply troubling, and we take it with the utmost seriousness. Our priority is the safety and well-being of the student and our community,” Chief Ed Burman wrote in a statement.
It is not the first time Wayland Public Schools have publicly grappled with racism concerns. In 2022, racist graffiti targeting former Superintendent Omar Easy was found near the high school. Easy, a Black man, later filed a discrimination complaint against the district, claiming a racially hostile environment. At the time the school committee said they remained committed to inclusivity and anti-racism.
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