Graffiti mars schools and park – The Acorn

Three weeks into the Israel-Hamas war, local residents are letting it be known how they stand on both sides of the dispute.

Vandals went to work and applied graffiti that said End Israeli Apartheid to the tennis and pickleball courts at Deerhill Park in Oak Park. The graffiti was discovered by players the morning of Oct. 20, and a worker for the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District came to investigate.

The same graffiti appeared at Oak Park High and Medea Creek Middle School.

Given the horrific events in Israel and Gaza, this statements nature serves to instill fear and divisiveness in our community, Oak Park schools Superintendent Jeff Davis said in a message sent to parents. Such acts are completely unacceptable, he said.

Brad Benioff, the school districts director of student support and school safety; Jason Meskis, Oak Park High School assistant principal; and Alexis Boyadjian, Medea Creek dean, met with the Ventura County Sheriffs Office and provided camera footage and screenshots of the school districts investigation, Davis said.

We are working with law enforcement to investigate. Our custodians covered it up as soon as we noticed it, said Ragini Aggarwal, public information officer for the school district.

Schools counselors were made available to students seeking support.

The communitys support for Israel went on display Oct. 22 when more than 200 backers of the Jewish cause staged a peaceful demonstration on the Kanan Road overpass above the 101 Freeway.

Orna Eilon, an Oak Park resident, contacted friends and helped organize the rally.

It was mainly to bring awareness to the people who are still hostages over there, and to show solidarity, Eilon said.

Most of the cars were honking and cheering. So many cars had American flags and waved back, she said.

We want to commend the Lost Hills Sheriffs department that showed a presence and patrolled there. That was really nice.

John Loesing

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Graffiti mars schools and park - The Acorn