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Fairfield students gathered Monday to decorate the sidewalks at McKinley Elementary School with messages of unity. (John Whaley)
FAIRFIELD, CT Less than a week after McKinley Elementary students encountered vandalism outside their school, they received a much different surprise messages of kindness and unity, artistically rendered along the school sidewalks.
Students discovered Tuesday on the school s front walkway chalk drawings of hearts, rainbows and flowers, and words encouraging them to be a light in the darkness and reminding them there is unity in our diversity.
The happy surprise was the result of a collaboration between several Fairfield high school and middle school groups. The organizations came together after graffiti that said United States of China and Biden For Socialism was reported to police Jan. 13 on sidewalks near the school and a snow mound in the parking lot.
McKinley Elementary School, known in the area for its
“incredible diversity,” saw
“United States of China” spray-painted on the sidewalk leading to its entrance, as well as on a snowbank near its parking lot on Wednesday.
Image via Fairfield Police Department
The phrase “Biden for Socialism” also appeared on a sidewalk near the school but was removed before the police officers arrived.
“The poignancy of placing it at a school location, the vandalism, and a political message, and a hate message against a racial group, at a school,” Republican State Senator Tony Hwang told FOX 61.
“At McKinley School which is well renowned in the region for its incredible diversity. Over 40 languages spoken, religion, ethnicity, culture, it is a tremendous melting pot of a community.”
UpdatedThu, Jan 14, 2021 at 12:56 pm ET
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Graffiti was found Wednesday near a Fairfield school and on a local store. (Anna Bybee-Schier/Patch)
FAIRFIELD, CT Police are investigating after graffiti that officials characterized as disturbing, political and racist was reported at a Fairfield elementary school and a nearby store.
A McKinley Elementary School employee notified law enforcement 1:30 p.m. Wednesday about vandalism on a sidewalk outside the school at 60 Thompson St., according to police.
Officers found the words United States of China spray-painted on the sidewalk and on a snow mound in the back of the school parking lot, police said. The phrase Biden For Socialism had also been painted on a sidewalk near the school but was removed by school district employees before officers arrived, according to police.