A school district in Kansas took a stance against hate after the high school's football stadium and press box were targeted by vandals who spray-painted slurs described as racist, antisemitic and homophobic.
The Overland Park Police Department is investigating vandalism at Blue Valley High’s stadium this past weekend, KCTV-TV reported. The police department said a school resource officer made a “destruction of property” report on Monday afternoon.
In a statement, Blue Valley Schools condemned the act and the messages that vandals left on the property.
"Hate and malicious acts of vandalism have no place at Blue Valley High or at any Blue Valley school," the statement said, as reported by KCTV-TV.
Blue Valley principal Bradley Page also sent a statement Monday to students and staff.
“I am reaching out to you today with extremely upsetting news," Page said. "This morning we learned the Blue Valley High School football stadium and press box were vandalized overnight. The vandalism includes the destruction of property, graphic images and vulgar and racially offensive language. Hate like this has no place at Blue Valley High and is not representative of our Tiger community.”
KMBC-TV reported Tuesday that officials were following up on several leads. The damage, which included the break-in of the press box and furniture damage, was discovered when school was out for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
A crew painted over the graffiti Monday.
Members of the community were asked to reach out to the police department with any information related to the vandalism.
