For the second time in less than a week, a school in the Affton School District has been vandalized with racist graffiti, and police believe the two incidents may be connected. The latest act of vandalism occurred overnight on March 12 at Rogers Middle School. Just days earlier, on March 7, similar hate symbols were spray-painted at Affton High School. The two schools are both located on Mackenzie Road, about 1.3 miles apart from each other. Authorities are now working to identify the suspect and determine whether hate crime charges are warranted.

Details of the investigation

According to the St. Louis County Police, security footage from Rogers Middle School captured an individual defacing the building in the early morning hours of March 12. The suspect, described as a white male standing between 5-foot-4-inches and 5-foot-8 with a slender build, was seen wearing all black clothing, a black raincoat, and a bandana covering his face. Authorities suspect he is the same individual who vandalized Affton High School and who was seen stealing two cans of black spray paint from a local hardware store on March 6.

According to KSDK, Lt. Shawn McGuire of the St. Louis County Police Department confirmed that investigators are working to determine whether hate crime charges may be pursued. KSDK also reported that while the FBI has been informed of the incidents, the case remains under local jurisdiction.

“The individual’s walk and mannerisms may be key to identifying him,” police stated, urging the community to review the released footage carefully. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Stickman at 636-529-8210.

First incident at Affton High School

The March 7 vandalism at Affton High School involved swastikas and racist graffiti, including the phrase “wite [sic] power,” spray-painted on the school’s front wall. The district’s response was swift and aligned with guidance from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which commended Affton for following best practices in addressing hate incidents.

“Affton is part of our ‘No Place for Hate’ program, and they handled this perfectly—by the book,” said Jordan Kadosh, regional director of ADL Heartland. “That means they followed the steps we recommend: notify law enforcement, document the incident, communicate openly with their community and reinforce that there is zero tolerance for hate. Unfortunately, not every district does that.”

Strengthening security measures

Following these incidents, the Affton School District is taking immediate action to strengthen security across its schools.

“While these acts of hate do not define us, they have reinforced our commitment to ensuring the safety of our students, staff and school buildings,” said Superintendent Dr. Travis Bracht in a statement to the Jewish Light. “We have increased security presence at all Affton schools, strengthened after-hours monitoring to prevent further acts of vandalism, and will add an additional school resource officer (SRO) for the 2025-26 school year to better serve our schools and community.”

“We recognize the emotional toll this has taken on our students, families and team, and we are providing counseling and support services for any student or staff member who needs assistance,” he added. Additionally, the district is inviting the community to a Community Conversation event with the ADL on March 31 at 6:30 p.m. at Affton High School to address the impact of these incidents and reinforce education about respect and inclusion.

Community response

Organizations such as the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum and the ADL have reiterated their commitment to standing with Affton against hate.

The Holocaust Museum has been an ongoing partner with the school district, working to provide educational resources and programming that promote awareness and inclusivity. The museum has previously hosted Affton High School students and plans to continue its engagement by welcoming Rogers Middle School students later this spring.

Helen Turner, director of education at the Holocaust Museum, also condemned the incidents, stating, “We unequivocally condemn this second act of vandalism in Affton and stand with the school and the community as a committed partner. Words have meaning, and it is up to all of us to call out and stand up to words of hate, bigotry and violence.”

Kadosh added, “We continue to be disgusted by the targeting of Affton schools with hateful graffiti. ADL Heartland remains committed to supporting the Affton school community in its hour of need, and we are grateful to the law enforcement professionals working to bring the vandal to justice.”

Superintendent Bracht echoed this sentiment, reaffirming the district’s commitment to standing against hate and ensuring that schools remain a safe space for all students. “We stand together against hate. Hate has no home in the Affton School District. We are grateful to law enforcement for their swift response and to our community for their support in ensuring our schools remain places of safety, inclusion and respect.”

The Missouri Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission emphasized that education is a critical tool in countering hate.

“While changes are underway at both the national and state levels to address antisemitism, we recognize that Holocaust education is the most vital step forward,” said Dee Dee Simon, chair of the commission. “Propaganda played a crucial role in the rise of Nazi power, and today, we face our own challenges with misinformation and bias, especially on social media. With approximately 51% of Gen Z teens aged 14-18 relying on social media for news, it’s no surprise that younger generations are showing higher levels of antisemitism than older ones.”

Simon highlighted that Missouri law mandates Holocaust education in all schools by the 2025-26 school year, and the commission is actively working to support teachers in this effort. “Through professional training workshops, we are committed to providing educators with accurate, pedagogically sound resources to teach this complex history. Teaching about the Holocaust can inspire students to think critically about what it means to be a responsible citizen.”

How you can help

Authorities urge anyone who recognizes the suspect in the released video footage or who has any relevant information to contact St. Louis County Police at 636-529-8210. Police have asked the public not to leave tips on social media but to reach out directly.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available.