Two juveniles have been taken into custody in connection with a vandalism incident at Glenridge Elementary School, located at 7447 Wellington Way in Clayton where antisemitic and racist graffiti was discovered early Monday morning, according to the Clayton Police Department.
The suspects, whose identities have not been released due to their age, are facing second-degree property damage charges enhanced by hate offense classifications, a Class E felony under Missouri law. They have been referred to St. Louis County juvenile authorities for prosecution.
Clayton Police first responded to a report of property damage at the school at 7:58 a.m. Monday, according to Cpl. Jenny Schwartz, the department’s public information officer. Officers were shown surveillance video that captured the suspects defacing a secluded part of the school’s exterior with hate speech targeting Jewish and Black communities. The markings were quickly removed by school staff following police documentation of the incident.
The graffiti, which included antisemitic and racist symbols, was not visible from nearby streets, police said. While the exact content of the graffiti has not been disclosed, the Clayton School District condemned the act in a letter to families and staff, emphasizing the district’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and respect.
“Hate has no home in the School District of Clayton,” Superintendent Nisha Patel wrote in the letter. “We remain committed to fostering a learning environment where all students, staff and families feel safe and valued.”
Patel also noted that the district would continue to work with community partners to provide support and resources for affected students and families. “We take these incidents seriously and will continue to reinforce the values of inclusion, respect and kindness that define our community,” she added.
Danny Cohn, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, said the Federation’s community security team, led by Scott Biondo, was immediately in contact with school administrators and local law enforcement. “We were pleased to see that Clayton School District leaders took quick action to both address it with those directly involved and to share a communication with all parents that antisemitism—and hate of any kind—has no place in our schools or anywhere in our community,” Cohn said.
Cohn added that the Federation stands ready to support the district in any way it needs. “The Jewish Federation of St. Louis is deeply committed to building a more inclusive, respectful and informed community, which is why we are increasing our investment to combat antisemitism in all forms, wherever it appears. This incident underscores the urgency of that mission.”
Jordan Kadosh, regional director of ADL Heartland, said in a statement, “We have been in touch with local law-enforcement and appreciate their professional response. We will be offering resources to the school along with the rest of the community in the coming days.”
In March, Affton High School and Rogers Middle School were defaced with antisemitic and racist graffiti, including swastikas and white supremacist slogans. St. Louis County police arrested 18-year-old Patrick Sloan in connection with those incidents. Sloan, a former Affton student, faces two counts of property damage motivated by discrimination (second degree).
