ROCK HILL, S.C. — Rock Hill school officials said Monday they will not tolerate a racist remark plastered at the entrance of South Pointe High School, and police are now investigating who wrote it.
Antonio Barnes is proud, as the only black building owner on Main Street in Rock Hill, to be a part of a walkway that will go next to his salon, highlighting strides in civil and human rights.
"We're pulling together to make a difference that will benefit not just one race of people," said Barnes.
Over the weekend, there was a setback in the community's progress at South Pointe High School. A custodian came to the school Sunday morning and discovered a hateful remark painted on the school's spirit rock. School officials said the rock was quickly painted over before students got to school on Monday.
The remark written on the rock was in reference to the start of February's Black History Month and the author signed it, "KKK."
Senior Madison Wightman saw the uncensored picture in class before she grabbed some of her classmates to change the script. They covered ugliness with a kind message --"We are all equal."
"I just felt shocked and really disgusted. I didn't know what I could do about it," said Wightman. "It made me realize that we are not as equal as people say we are."
The Rock Hill School District released a statement on its Facebook page Monday night. It reads in part:
"Rock Hill School District is one that celebrates diversity, and last week in our community, we celebrated a group called the Friendship 9 whose criminal records were vacated for trespassing 54 years ago at a local food counter that was designated for 'whites only.' While the district is disappointed in the actions of those who painted the rock, we will not let them take from us our joy or success in the progress our community has made, and will continue to make, in racial relations."
School officials said they do have surveillance cameras outside the school, but they don't know if they captured this weekend's scribe.
If that person is caught, police said he or she could be charged with vandalism.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- Amber Alert canceled after teen girl found safe, stepfather still at large
- Busy Union Co. highway closed after tractor-trailer crash
- Bobbi Kristina Brown reportedly in medically induced coma
- Woman found dead outside Lenoir apartment complex
- Firefighters say smoke alarms alerted family of 5 to house fire
WSOC
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
