'I Am Outraged': Montco Leaders Respond To Nazi Vandalism At School

UPPER MORELAND, PA — Local leaders in Montgomery County are condemning the Nazi vandalism and "vulgar" graffiti that was spray painted on an elementary school over the weekend.

“I am outraged and deeply saddened by the recent act of vandalism and antisemitic hate at Upper Moreland Elementary School," State Sen. Maria Collett said in a statement. "This intolerable act is not just an attack on a school — it is an attack on our values, our community, and the fundamental principles of justice and equality."

Collett called the incident a hate crime that went well beyond the constitutionally-allowed bounds of freedom of expression.

Related: Swastikas Painted On Montco Elementary School: Police

"The rise of fascist sympathies, authoritarian tendencies, and open expressions of hate in our society is deeply disturbing and rocks our identity as a beacon for freedom and democracy," Collett added. "There is right, and there is wrong. Let us be unequivocal: support for Nazism has been, is today, and will forever be wrong and fundamentally anti-American."

The incident occurred at Upper Moreland Elementary School, located on Byberry Road on Saturday, March 8 at around 11:50 p.m.

Police said that a red sedan, carrying two suspect sped into the parking lot and to the back of the school.

The pair got out and proceeded to cover parts of the building and playground equipment with various vulgar words and symbols, including swastikas, authorities said.

The suspects were on scene for about 20 minutes before surveillance footage captures the vehicle leaving the scene.

The surveillance clip can be viewed online here.

If you have any information, email Detective Davido at mdavido@uppermoreland.org or call 215-657-4700.