School staff at Kensington Hilltop Elementary found a racial slur scrawled on an exterior campus wall on Monday and quickly covered it before students arrived, prompting a hate crime investigation by Kensington police. No suspects have been identified, and investigators believe the vandalism happened sometime between Friday afternoon and early Monday morning.
According to KRON4, the slur was discovered on an exterior wall at the school, located at 90 Highland Boulevard, and staff immediately contacted Kensington police after covering it up. Police said in a statement that, “Because of its racially offensive nature, we are investigating this incident as a possible hate crime.” Investigators are working with school and district officials as the case develops, though no suspects have yet been identified.
Kensington police emphasized the seriousness of the incident, saying acts meant to target or intimidate community members based on race have no place in Kensington and are taken seriously. The department is asking anyone with information about unusual activity at or near the school, or with home or vehicle camera footage from the area, to call (510) 525-7573 and reference Case No. 2026-0230.
A Similar Case Playing Out in Marin County
The Kensington investigation follows a closely watched case in San Anselmo, where police say antisemitic images and writing were found on asphalt outside Brookside Elementary School. Officers responded to that scene at about 8:30 p.m. on a Saturday, according to NBC Bay Area, and police believe that vandalism happened sometime between the end of the school day Friday and that Saturday evening. Investigators there asked anyone with information to contact Detective Josh Hamilton at 415-927-5150.
In that case, officers classified the vandalism as a hate crime because of the images and writing involved, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Investigators worked with the Ross Valley School District and ultimately identified a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old as suspects, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The Central Marin Police Authority said it had gathered enough evidence to refer the matter to the Marin County District Attorney's Office for possible charges, and the school removed the graffiti the night after officers documented it.
How Often Do These Cases Happen in the Bay Area
Hate crime cases involving schools remain relatively uncommon in the region, though state data shows fluctuation over time. California's Attorney General reported a 32.6% increase in hate crime incidents statewide between 2020 and 2021, according to News24-680, with Black, Asian, and LGBTQ people identified as the groups most frequently targeted. In Contra Costa County specifically, only 14 hate crimes were referred to the District Attorney's Office that same year, the outlet reported.
No suspects have been named in the Kensington case as the investigation continues, and the exact circumstances behind the vandalism remain under review. Police have not said whether any camera footage from the area has been recovered. Anyone with relevant information is asked to come forward so investigators can move the case forward.
