By Cliff White 

Staff Writer

Anti-Semitic graffiti discovered by administrators in Gorham High School is forcing the school community to confront the question of whether it is dealing with an isolated incident or something more widespread.

Drawings of swastikas were found in bathrooms and other locations in the school, Gorham Police Lt. Chris Sanborn said. Several students said a swastika was also drawn on the door of a Jewish teacher’s classroom, which Sanborn would neither confirm or deny.

The first graffiti was found at the beginning of March, and further drawings were found for a period of two to three weeks, Sanborn said. 

“We have leads into possible suspects, and charges will be considered depending on the outcome of the investigation,” Sanborn said.

When the investigation is completed – which Sanborn expects to occur by the end of next week – a copy of the report will be sent to Attorney General Steven Rowe’s office, which will determine whether to classify the incidents as a hate crime.

Gorham High School Principal John Drisko said he was working to arrange a visit from representatives of the attorney general’s office to address the entire school.

“We’re trying to build this into a concerted, school-wide movement to make this a teaching moment,” Drisko said. “It’s clear this is less about a swastika or two and more about intolerance in general. That’s the way we’re approaching it and trying to address it.”

Soon after the swastikas were discovered, Drisko said he gave a speech over the school’s intercom along with two members of the senior class.

“The teachers said the students were quiet and listened very carefully,” Drisko said. “The majority of the response has been tremendously positive. We’re saying we don’t want that kind of school here, and when anyone sees something like this going on, they should say something about it.”

Senior John Allen said he had had several classes which teachers had devoted entirely to discussing the incidents, asking the students their thoughts on the issue.

“It’s been well addressed by the school – we’ve got to start that conversation,” Allen said.

Allen said the incidents had surprised most of the students at the school.

“Not everybody is friends, but nobody hates each other here,” Allen said. “This is strange and stupid.”

Senior John-Mark Adkison said the majority of the school recognized those who had drawn the swastikas to be “troubled.”

“I don’t know whether they meant to do it as a joke or not, but if they’re caught, they should be punished,” Adkison said. “This is something that shouldn’t ever happen.”

However, not all students took offense at the incidents.

A 15-year-old Gorham High School sophomore, whom the Gazette chose not to identify, said the swastikas drawn in the bathrooms were examples of, “People’s right to an opinion,” though the swastika on the Jewish teacher’s door “went too far.”

He said he was familiar with those who had drawn the swastikas in the bathrooms but not with the person or persons who had drawn the swastika on the teacher’s door.

“I think they were mostly joking around,” the sophomore said. “I’m sure they were just doing it so they could tell their friends they did it.”

The sophomore, who described himself as having racist beliefs, said the swastikas were drawn by “skinheads” with true racist and anti-Semitic sentiment.

“Oh yeah, some of the hate is real,” he said.

According to a census performed by the Portland-based Jewish Community Alliance (JCA), 8,350 residents of Southern Maine (between Brunswick and Kittery) identify themselves as Jewish. Out of that group, 16 percent reported personally experiencing some form of anti-Semitism in their local community, and 34 percent had the perception there was “a great deal or moderate amount” of anti-Semitism in their community, according to the survey. 

Assistant to the Attorney General for Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Tom Harnett said Maine’s civil rights statue makes no distinction between minors and those 18-years-old or older in regard to hate crimes.

“It applies to all people, not just those over the age of 18,” Harnett said. “But it is only used in civil cases, not criminal cases, and it is up to prosecutorial discretion as to whether to pursue additional punishment for hate crimes.”

Conviction for perpetration of a hate crime can add a fine of up to $5,000 to any penalty handed down in civil cases, Harnett said. The attorney general’s office receives between 250 to 300 referrals of potential hate crimes violations from local police departments, and brings actions in about a dozen or two every year, Harnett said.

“There are three sets of consequences to cases like this,” Harnett said. “Beside the legal implications, any time a school community is affected in any way by hatred directed toward any individual in the school, it’s a real problem,” Harnett said. “And then there are the human consequences. One would suspect there are people feeling hurt, and that’s the real tragedy.”

The attorney general’s office trains civil rights teams in many schools across Maine. The teams are are groups of students taught about Maine’s Civil Rights Legislation and trained to support those targeted by hate crimes and encourage them to report such incidents, Harnett said.

Drisko said his school had such a group, but it had been “inactive in recent years” because the school “didn’t see the need.”

JCA board member Richard Krull dismissed the notion those who had drawn the swastikas were unfamiliar with their full historical significance. 

“I’m hoping these kids are educated enough to know what the swastika stands for,” Krull said, adding Jews were not the only targets of Nazi atrocities – that Gypsies, Poles, Slavs and numerous other ethnic and religious groups were also victims of large-scale human rights violations and mass murders.

However, Krull said he believes the school has handled the situation well. He said while anti-Semitic acts are increasing worldwide, the drawings of the swastika represented a unique and isolated occurrence in Maine.

“Yes, incidents like this happen, but this is not a sign of an organized attempt to intimidate Jews in Maine,” Krull said. “We’re looking at this as an individual act, done by one very confused individual, and we’re hopeful the school administration, faculty and student body will take steps to see these incidents remain extremely isolated.”

Harnett said Maine was a leader in the nation in addressing the issues of racism, religious intolerance and bigotry in the state.

“I think we do a better job of making sure these things get reported and dealt with than a lot of places,” Harnett said. “The bad news is that incidents like the swastikas in Gorham ever happen at all. The good news is we have an effective and thorough system of reporting, investigating and prosecuting cases like these.”

Lt. Sanborn agreed the anti-Semitic graffiti appeared to be an isolated event in the community.

“We haven’t seen anything like this before in Gorham,” Sanborn said.

•Editor’s note: Although the 15-year-old youth in this article provided his name for publication, the Gazette strayed from its policy to name all people quoted within our paper. We chose not to publish his name due to his status as a minor as well as the subject matter discussed.