In a troubling incident that has shaken the Affton community, Affton High School in Missouri was vandalized with swastikas and racist graffiti, including the misspelled phrase “wite [sic] power,” discovered by staff early Friday morning.
The Affton School District responded promptly by contacting law enforcement, securing a professional restoration team to remove the offensive imagery, and issuing a strong condemnation of the acts. Superintendent Travis Bracht addressed the district in a letter, stating, “These acts, which include swastikas and other offensive phrases, have no place in our school, our district, or our community. Hate has no home in Affton School District.”
The St. Louis County Police Department is investigating the incident as a hate crime but has not yet identified any suspects.
Notably, Affton High School had been recognized by the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) “No Place for Hate” program just seven months prior, highlighting the school’s commitment to fostering respect and inclusion. Jordan Kadosh, regional director of ADL Heartland, praised the district’s handling of the situation, stating, “Affton is part of our ‘No Place for Hate’ program, and they handled this perfectly—by the book.”
In response to the vandalism, the district has made counseling services available to students and staff, encouraging open discussions about respect and inclusion. The community’s swift and unified reaction underscores a collective commitment to ensuring that hate has no place in Affton.