Wednesday morning at 7 a.m., the Norman Police Department received reports of racist and anti-semitic vandalism found a three locations, including an elementary school.
Since then, the Norman community has responded with condemnation of the hateful vandalism found around the city.
This incident, however, is not the first to occur in Oklahoma. Last Thursday, March 28, similar graffiti was found at the Oklahoma Democratic Party headquarters and the Chickasaw Nation Center in Oklahoma City.
The racist and anti-semitic graffiti was found at the Cleveland County Democratic Party headquarters, The Firehouse Arts Center and McKinley Elementary School.
The Daily reached out to The Firehouse Arts Center but has yet to receive a response.
At the end of the day, NPD released footage via Twitter of a female individual believed to be connected to the three incidents Wednesday as well as the similar incidents March 28 in OKC.
NPD said in the statement that the vehicle shown in the 40 second footage has been located but are requesting any information on the identity of the female suspect, the statement said.
Crystal Golding-Ross, Chair of the Cleveland County Democratic Party, gave a statement to The Daily saying that she was deeply saddened by the acts against the headquarters.
“It goes against our values and the values of every decent human being out there. The police are investigating and we expect that they will do their due diligence to find out who did it,” Golding-Ross said.
Soon after the reports of the acts reached the public, clean up efforts began on the sites of the incidents and a community rally was planned by Mayor-elect Breea Clark as a call for swift action from Norman leaders to respond to the incidents.
The community rally was set to take place at Lion’s Park next to the Firehouse Arts Center, where one of the incidents occurred.
“The rally was planned throughout a very emotional morning,” Clark said.
The superintendent of Norman Public Schools Nick Migliorino released a statement also condemning the acts against the elementary school, where he said the McKinley community reacted with “shock and outrage at this vile act.”
“We condemn these messages of hate and the cowardly person or persons responsible for them, in the strongest possible terms. They are in direct opposition to our stated core values of integrity, inclusiveness, optimism and collaboration,” Migliorino said in the statement.
University of Oklahoma leaders also condemned the acts against the Norman Community and offered their own support.
OU President Jim Gallogly released a statement via email acknowledging that the university was aware of the “reprehensible vandalism” and joins the community on condemnation.
“Such acts are contrary to the sense of community and family that exists at OU,” Gallogly said.
Adran Gibbs, President of the Student Government Association, said the response to such acts is simple.
“We have to unequivalently condemn all forms of hate,” Gibbs said. “I think sometimes we forget about other marginalized communities on campus and we have to continue to show solidarity and support for no matter what’s in the news or what’s not in the news, even if nothing was to blow up on campus.”
Oklahoma government leaders gave their own statements condemning the acts.
Congressman Tom Cole, R-OK, and Congresswoman Kendra Horn, D-OK, both gave separate statements saying that they were “incredibly disheartened” and “deeply saddened.”
“As individuals, we must do better at respecting and accepting the differences between each other,” Oklahoma House of Representatives Minority Leader Emily Virgin said. “As a community, we must do better standing with those attacked and condemning such attacks. As a society, we must do better at educating our children about acceptance, equality and the pain that these images cause to those around us.”
Rep. Merelyn Bell, D-Norman, said in a statement that the vandalism was not an attack on an individual but rather an attack on the Norman community at institutions that promote education, culture and democracy.
“Cowards, unwilling to show their face, attacked the foundation of American life. I encourage all of Norman to stand with me and condemn this grotesque act of ignorance and hate,” Bell said.
Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, said in a statement that the acts were meant to “divide us.”
“We must not allow this,” Rosecrants said. “We must steel our resolve and march into the future in solidarity, ready to spread love and acceptance of other cultures and lifestyles. We must unite and show hate that it has no place in our state.”
