By Brad Spiegel
brad.spiegel@waylandpost.org
Criminal charges will not be filed against those involved in the alleged racist incident at Wayland High School in October.
A statement released by the Wayland Police Department and Wayland Public School via CivicPlus – the town’s communication platform – said that investigators “have determined that criminal charges are not warranted in this matter.”
On Oct. 31, a student found a traffic safety figure hanging from a pipe in a boys bathroom. It had the jersey of a black football player on it. The concern was the act was racially motivated.
“The investigation indicated that football players had hung up the traffic figure on a ceiling pipe near Halloween decorations and other football jerseys and that there was no criminal, hateful, or racial motivation behind the incident,”the statement read.
The complete letter is below.
JOINT STATEMENT FROM WAYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WAYLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
Dear Wayland Community,
We are writing to provide an update on investigations undertaken by the Wayland Public Schools and the Wayland Police Department into a matter that occurred in late October that has been the subject of significant public discussion and inquiry following initial reports from school and police officials. It is our hope that this update provides clarity on the results of the investigation and next steps for Wayland.
Investigators from the Wayland Police Department have determined that criminal charges are not warranted in this matter. In conducting the investigation, Wayland Police consulted with officials from the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office who specialize in racial and bias-motivated incidents.
In late October, a student athlete reported that a green traffic safety figure, the kind used to warn motorists to slow down for children at play, had been found hanging in the locker room with a Wayland football jersey over it. There was concern that the display of this figure, which was wearing the jersey of a former Black team member, was racially-motivated. The investigation indicated that football players had hung up the traffic figure on a ceiling pipe near Halloween decorations and other football jerseys and that there was no criminal, hateful, or racial motivation behind the incident.
While the investigations are now closed, the impact remains, and our work continues. We are mindful of the meanings, intentional or not, that certain symbols or actions have on Wayland and members of our community. The pain that resulted was palpable, and we cannot ignore the harm that this incident has done to the community. Additionally, the lack of awareness of how this display could be perceived as racially-motivated and cause such hurt highlights the acute need for an increase in education, sensitivity, and understanding of hate-based symbols.
Wayland will take this opportunity to engage in learning and enrichment activities meant to improve understanding of race and culture and increase recognition of the effect our actions have on others. Wayland Public Schools is also working with outside experts to deliver training, team building, and learning experiences for our students, student athletes, and staff members. The community will be kept apprised of these efforts throughout the remainder of the school year.
No member of our community should feel unwelcome or unsafe in Wayland. Together we will continue our collective effort to foster a greater sense of community and humanity.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as this process unfolded.
David Fleishman, Superintendent of Schools
Ed Burman, Chief of Police
