Antisemitism continues to rise in America after four public schools in Maryland were found defaced with antisemitic graffiti.

According to ABC News, the schools targeted were Winston Churchill High School, Thomas S. Wootton High School, Strathmore Elementary School, and Fallsmead Elementary School. Upon arriving to investigate, Montgomery police found spray-painted on walls”Israel Bomb Schools” and “Heil Hitler,” as well as numerous swastikas and profanity against Jews. “Israel rapes men, women, and children” was found on a school sign, and “Free Gaza” was scrawled on a curb.

“These incidents are not only crimes. They are hateful actions that seek to divide our community and instill fear in our residents,” police chief Marc Yamada said. “Let me be clear. Every person, faith, culture, and religion has the right to feel safe and respected in Montgomery County. These acts of bias and hate will not be tolerated.”

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington issued a similar statement:

“The horrific terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th and the ensuing war in Gaza have brought tremendous pain and suffering to Israeli, Jewish, Palestinian, and other Arab families in our area. But litigating the war on school walls will do nothing to achieve peace in the affected region and only further inflames tensions and divisiveness here at home.”

By Thursday, local residents including young children came together to remove the antisemitic graffiti.

Home to over 100,000 Jewish people, antisemitism is not new to Montgomery County. Just last week, a sign reading “We Support Israel” outside a synagogue in Bethesda was found vandalized with a swastika.”