Berkeley Heights police are investigating after middle school students found four swastikas and a racial slur chalked on the lower basketball court at Columbia Park last Friday morning. The students alerted the school’s resource officer and administrators.
In an email from school administrators, the message was described as four swastikas and the n-word. Administrators told TAPinto Berkeley Heights they believe the graffiti was made Thursday evening or overnight. Officials said they do not know whether those responsible are Columbia Middle School students.
The discovery was reported to the superintendent of schools, the Berkeley Heights Police Department and the Board of Education. Police said racial slurs were found at Lower Columbia Park on October 30 and are investigating the case as a bias incident.
Police Chief Vows to Identify Those Responsible
Police Chief Frank Mea said the department is working to identify those responsible. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Bryan McLaughlin at 908-464-1111 or [email protected].
In their email, school leaders Laura Muller and Scott Berman condemned the graffiti, saying racism, antisemitism, hate speech, intimidation and discrimination have no place in the school or community. They said hateful symbols and language can harm people and make them feel excluded or intimidated.
Muller and Berman said the incident conflicts with school and community values and that Columbia Middle School would respond through its statements and actions, according to the administrators’ email.
School Plans Lessons on Hate Symbols and Inclusion
Administrators said Columbia Middle School plans to use upcoming advisory lessons to discuss hate symbols, respect, inclusion and the effects of individual actions. The school will also address the incident through its ongoing work on harassment, intimidation and bullying, and counselors are available to support affected students.
Administrators encouraged parents to speak with their children, listen to their concerns, and reinforce the importance of speaking up against hateful or discriminatory behavior.
PAL Reminds Families About Supervision at Fields
TAPinto reported that Berkeley Heights PAL president Bill Faxon reminded PAL members to supervise children using local athletic facilities. The reminder followed Kim Feltre’s request that the organization tell parents and coaches children should be supervised at all times at athletic facilities.
Faxon said the PAL had no reason to believe the graffiti was connected to anyone associated with the organization or was made during a PAL game or practice. He described the reminder as general guidance for PAL members and urged the community to work together to improve the town.
A Separate New Jersey Case
In March, Maplewood police responded to Columbia High School after antisemitic graffiti was discovered there, Village Green reported. The report was forwarded to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office for further review. There is no indication that the two incidents are related; the cases alone do not establish a broader local pattern.
Statewide Bias-Incident Context
Reported bias incidents in New Jersey rose for seven consecutive years through 2022, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. That statewide pattern does not establish a trend in Berkeley Heights or a connection to this case.
How New Jersey Classifies These Cases
New Jersey’s harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) definition can cover some conduct off school grounds if it substantially disrupts or interferes with school operations or students’ rights and meets the other statutory criteria, according to the New Jersey Department of Education. That standard does not establish that the park graffiti is a school HIB case. The New Jersey Attorney General’s Bias Incident Investigation Standards say an incident that appears bias-based should be investigated and reported as such, with motive and intent verified during the investigation. The Attorney General’s 2021-2022 report also cautions that not all bias incidents are bias crimes; the investigation classification alone does not establish that a crime occurred or who acted and why.
