Statement
Statement by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on Hateful Graffiti Incidents in Community
For Immediate Release: Monday 12 August
I was disgusted by the hate-filled vandalism that we saw in Bethesda yesterday. While individuals may have strong opinions and feelings about events in the Middle East, hate speech and vandalism are not acceptable outlets for any type of political concerns or comments. The last thing we need is further inflammatory rhetoric that drives people apart. We as a County have a long tradition of coming together for social justice and against hate. We cannot let this important work be a casualty of these types of incidents.
I appreciate the community's quick reporting and the work of the Montgomery County Police, Montgomery County Public Schools, the Bethesda Regional Service Center and Bethesda Urban Partnership, which collected the necessary evidence and rapidly removed the graffiti.
I encourage anyone with information about the perpetrators to contact the Police Department at the non-emergency number at 301-279-8000. Hate has no place in Montgomery County, and I pledge to continue working with our partners, including Montgomery County Public Schools, to make sure we educate our community about the harm that such divisive language causes our neighbors and friends.
Release ID: 24-014