Community Speaks Out After More Hate Speech Graffiti Found

HINGHAM, MA- The Hingham community is responding to multiple incidents of hate speech graffiti at Hingham High School, sparking strong reactions from students, school officials, and local organizations. Last Thursday, a swastika was found marked on the wall of a boys’ bathroom, and this week, a racial slur was discovered, also written on the wall of a boys’ bathroom. This prompted calls for action and a student-led Unity Rally.

“To say I am disheartened and angry would be an understatement,” said Principal John Buckey. “Tagging school property by marking swastikas or any other form of hate will be fully investigated by the High School administration and the Hingham Police Department, and any students who engage in such acts face consequences accordingly. As these acts of hate are a crime, we are supporting their investigations as such.”

During a school committee meeting on March 10, Chair Nes Correnti condemned the incidents as deliberate acts of hate that must not be ignored. “These are symbols of hate… symbols that send a message of exclusion, fear, and intimidation to members of our community,” she stated. “Hate has no place in our school. Not last week, not today, not ever.”

Correnti emphasized that a swastika represents genocide, including the murder of six million Jewish people during the Holocaust, while the N-word has been used to dehumanize and oppress Black individuals. She dismissed the idea that these were pranks and stressed the need for meaningful action.

She acknowledged the students who reported the incidents and the swift response from school administrators but warned that erasing the graffiti does not erase the problem. “We must ask ourselves: Why is this happening? Why now? And what are we doing to ensure that every student in our schools feels safe, valued, and respected?”

Correnti urged the community to take a stand against rising antisemitism, racism, and intolerance. “It means making it clear that our community does not just condemn hate—we actively work against it.”

“To our Jewish, Black, and all students who have EVER felt targeted or unsafe: We see you. We stand with you. And we will not tolerate any act that threatens your dignity or belonging in this school.”

Hingham Students Speak Out

In response to these incidents, members of the Jewish Student Union, People of Color and Allies, and HHS Metco students organized a Unity Rally to support their fellow students and denounce hateful speech at school. Team captains and leaders from various HHS clubs helped spread the word about the event.

A few hundred students, teachers, and staff gathered along Union Street at 7:30 a.m. on March 13, wearing red and holding handmade signs to show solidarity.

Community Groups Condemn Graffiti

The Hingham Human Rights Commission issued this statement on the incident:

“Such hate words and symbols, such as a swastika, have no place in Hingham and are not only an attack on a specific group of our students, but also diminish us as a community. We condemn these acts of hate and stand united against prejudice and in support of all minority groups in our community.

We encourage Hingham’s community members to model tolerance and diversity, advocate for all of Hingham’s vulnerable communities, and support parents to have thoughtful discussions with their children about the destructive nature of such hateful actions in our town.

The Human Rights Commission is committed to fostering a community where everyone feels safe, supported, and welcomed. We will continue to reject discrimination throughout Hingham and encourage our leaders, students, town employees, and community members to stand up to hateful acts. We will remain united as we continue working together to build a stronger and more supportive community.”

The Hingham Unity Council board also responded to this latest incident:

“The Hingham Unity Council is deeply saddened to hear of yet another incident of hate, this time a racial slur, discovered on a bathroom wall at Hingham High School. While we commend the students who promptly reported it and the school for swiftly condemning it, we call on all members of our community, especially parents, to engage in thoughtful conversations with their children about the harmful impact of such symbols and language.

These incidents are not ‘pranks’—these words and symbols are not harmless. They cause real pain, fear, and distress, and they have a lasting, damaging effect on those targeted within our community.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to rejecting hate and upholding the values of respect, kindness, and inclusion. This is the community we are proud to be in Hingham.”

For more Hingham news, visit the Hingham homepage.