Racial Slur Scrawled In Shelf At Cedar Grove High School: Police

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A racial slur was found scrawled on a shelf in a classroom at Cedar Grove High School on Thursday afternoon. Authorities have launched a bias-based investigation, but say that there is no imminent threat from the “graffiti,” which may be up to 10-years-old.

Cedar Grove Police Chief Joseph Cirasa released the following details about the investigation:

“On Feb. 11 at 2:41 p.m., Board of Education staff reported criminal mischief – graffiti – inside the Cedar Grove High School. Unknown actor(s) had defaced a large ledge or shelf that runs along the back of one of the classrooms. The graffiti was discovered inadvertently while the area was being cleaned. It was found under some books and papers that had been stored on the shelf for as many as 10 years. The writing was about two to three inches long and the ink appeared faded from time. The graffiti in question was an ethnic slur typically directed at African American people.”

Cirasa continued:

“The incident is being investigated as biased-based and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office will be notified in accordance with New Jersey Attorney General guidelines regarding conducting Bias Incident Investigations. At this point all indications are, that the graffiti is old. The matter is isolated and there is no imminent threat to the community or individual. Detectives will continue the investigation in cooperation with county and state law enforcement. If anyone has any additional information or feels they should come forward, please contact the Cedar Grove Police Department at 973-239-4100.”

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