The Montgomery County Council denounced hateful actions against schools and churches after a Silver Spring, Maryland, church and at least two public schools were vandalized.
Swastikas were discovered on the mirror and walls of a boys’ restroom at Westland Elementary School, a threatening racial slur was removed from the wall at Sligo Creek Elementary School, and a sign saying “Trump Nation, Whites Only” was taken down at Our Savior Episcopal Church.
The council said the vandalism was unacceptable. They passed a resolution denouncing discrimination, racial bias, hate speech, hate crimes and harassment.
“What was consciously unleashed in the presidential campaign is now coming home to roost,” said Councilmember Roger Berliner (D). “It is now succeeding in dividing us."
“"What we've heard from the president-elect are hateful things,” said council President Nancy Floreen. “I think he should take responsibility for understanding that words matter."
“We're asking the community to come together with us so we can deal with those who express views that are not acceptable to Montgomery County,” said Executive Ike Leggett. “That's where we start, but it's not where we're going to end, because I want to end with the promise I've made in our residents that this will be the most welcoming community in all of America.”
Some members of the community don't think Donald Trump's election or his supporters are responsible.
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“I don't think there's any evidence that it is, in fact, the Trump supporters,” said Montgomery County resident Lynn Perry Parker. “There are angry people for a lot of reasons, and they are acting out inappropriately."
