Black student found responsible for ‘disturbing’ racist graffiti

The student is a minor and has not been identified by authorities. She had written “colored” and “white” above a water found at C.K. McClatchy High School. “Colored” was written over the older part of the fountain while “white” was penned atop a newer portion of the fountain that also fills water bottles.

Prior to the announcement that the vandal is black, community activists were in an uproar. The NAACP demanded “accountability.” At a protest, one black community activist shouted: “We are tired of ‘district letters.’ We are tired of ‘we are investigating.’ What we want is consequences.”

However, now the incident is billed as a prank gone wrong.

“It was a prank that went sideways is my characterization of what the young woman said in her confession,” said Mark Harris, an attorney with an expertise in social justice who was appointed last month to help the school district address racism and equity, reports The Sacramento Bee.

“It should be a moment for our community to come together and make sure this doesn’t destroy this person’s life,” Harris said. “…We don’t know why she did it. This is not a situation that is the same as an overt deliberate move to do something that is racist, destructive, negative.”