Police and Catholic school board officials are investigating after what they call "shocking and disgusting" hate messages at a Lakeshore high school.
Catholic board communications director Stephen Fields says students and teachers arrived at St. Anne High School Friday morning to find derogatory messages against the LGBT community spray painted on the pavement. "We were shocked and disgusted and appalled by what was painted in the parking lot of our school," says Fields. "We try to promote a very accepting and inclusive environment in our schools and this flies in the face of everything we are trying to promote in our schools. We are looking at this very, very seriously."
Fields says it's unclear if students were behind this and the board is working closely with the OPP to find those responsible.
OPP Constable Shawna Coulter says you "can't automatically assume" hate messages constitute a hate crime according to the law. She says there needs to be more behind it and police are currently investigating this as a mischief case. Coulter adds police are actively looking on social media to try and find those responsible. "We certainly can't allow this to happen anywhere."
St. Anne Grade 12 student Gina Skocaj says bullying on social media towards LGBT students may have triggered these hate messages. She says some students chose to stand up to others bullying the LGBT community. "A number of us wore t-shirts yesterday that said phrases like 'transgender lives matter' to try and show our support," says Skocaj. "After that people just really blew up, some in support, but a lot just against us and not happy about what we were doing."
Students at St. Anne High School in Lakeshore hold a small demonstration in support of the LGBT community. (Photo courtesy Gina Skocaj/Twitter)
Police are investigating after someone sprayed hate messages at St. Anne High School in Lakeshore. (Photo courtesy Gina Skocaj/Twitter)