Eagle Mountain-Saginaw parent demands action after racist and threatening messages found at two schools

The ISD parent from Eagle Mountain Saginaw said she hopes changes will be made after racist and threatening messages were exposed by spray paint on two school campuses in Fort Worth This week.

School district officials confirmed on Monday that vandals painted racist graffiti on the yard of Chisholm Trail High School and along with the walkway in front of Ed Wilkie High School.

Keisha Nelson said her son, a senior at Chisholm Trail High School, showed her the pictures after school on Monday. Nelson told NBC 5 that she contacted the school board.

“I have informed the board that I will not support this time,” she said. “I just want everyone to be treated fairly. I think it all starts at the top.”

Nelson’s eldest son graduated from Chisholm Trail High School in 2016. She said that going forward, she would like courses for students and staff to focus on cultural awareness in light of these recent incidents.

“Just like with work, we should be doing courses on accepting other cultures and learning about them so you can be more tolerant of them,” Nelson said. “It sort of reduces the hatred in your heart for people when you find out about them. It’s time to make a change and it really creates a culture of acceptance for all people.”

EMS ISD declined to be interviewed by NBC 5 on camera about the incidents, but a county spokesperson shared a letter that was sent to parents. A letter from Dr. Winston McCowan, Principal of Chisholm Trail High School, says that EMS ISD police are investigating the two incidents and will check cameras covering areas marked by vandals.

According to the school, the perpetrators will be arrested and face legal consequences.

“Part of what makes our community great is our diversity. We will not tolerate anything that makes our campus uncomfortable for any child,” McCowan wrote.

Jake Kurtz, director of communications for the Anti-Defamation League’s central division, said their office contacted the EMS ISD police.

The Anti-Defamation League is one of the oldest anti-hate organizations in the country.

“That’s something we really want to focus on,” Kurtz said. “We really just want to make sure it’s an incident that we can fix before it can turn into something more serious.”

According to Kurtz, when incidents like those at EMS ISD occur, they serve as a reminder of why everyone plays their part in fighting hate.

“We must accept people of all cultures and consider the differences we bring. To be honest, it makes us stronger,” he said.

Graffiti found on the school grounds also included a warning message to come to school on March 3, although a district spokesman said the police did not find the threat to be credible.

District authorities are urging anyone with information to report it through “Talk” button on their website via criminalsor by calling the EMS ISD Police Service at 817-847-2999.