A Burlingame High School staff worker covering up anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist graffiti found on an exterior wall of the school on Sept. 5, 2019. (Photo/The Burlingame B) News Bay Area Outbreak of anti-Semitic graffiti at Burlingame High School Facebook Twitter Email SMS WhatsApp Share By Gabe Stutman | September 6, 2019 The Burlingame Police Department is investigating a slew of anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist graffiti found on the walls of Burlingame High School Thursday morning. Photos published by the Burlingame B, the school’s student newspaper, show the vandal or vandals used black spray paint which the newspaper said bore “anti-Semitic and bigoted symbols and phrases,” including swastikas and racial slurs. The incident was described as a “severe” case with “ten to fifteen distinct sites” of vandalism spread across campus. Maintenance workers scrambled to cover up the graffiti with black paper before students arrived on campus, later applying two coats of paint to fully cover the drawings, the newspaper reported. One photo shows a worker scrubbing a swastika drawn on a banner with the image of a panther, the school mascot. Burlingame High worker Victor Delaplaine scrubs a swastika from a school banner, Aug. 5, 2019. (Photo/The Burlingame B) In an email to parents, principal Paul Belzer said an investigation was underway in collaboration with the Burlingame Police Department and the San Mateo Union High School District. “I am outraged,” Belzer wrote. “I feel our students and school, and our school’s values of integrity and community have been attacked.” At lunchtime, the school held an “open discussion” for students and staff to discuss the incident. “Drop-in counseling” was available for students throughout the day, Belzer said in his letter. The act of vandalism was the second anti-Semitic and homophobic outburst at the high school this year. In April, a Jewish student’s locker was broken into, and a swastika and the word “fag” were written on it in deodorant. The perpetrator was not caught, the victim’s mother told J. Friday. In May, the Anti-Defamation League held a town hall event on combating hate at Burlingame Middle School, where anti-Semitic bullying had been reported. The ADL is investigating this week’s incident and would be reaching out to the high school Friday, a spokesperson said. J. is part of Documenting Hate, a coalition of newsrooms led by ProPublica to get a better picture of hate in America today. If you witness or hear about a possible hate incident, let us know by filling out this form. Gabe Stutman Gabe Stutman is the news editor of J. Follow him on Twitter @jnewsgabe. Also On J. Bay Area Former student arrested in anti-Semitic graffiti attack at Burlingame High School Bay Area After spate of bigoted graffiti, Burlingame students hold day of ‘unity against hate’ Bay Area Ex-student pleads not guilty for anti-Semitic graffiti at Burlingame High Bay Area Burlingame schools grapple with anti-Semitic incidents Subscribe to our Newsletter Enter Email Sign Up