After two hate incidents took place at North less than a month apart, the Human Rights Council (HRC) is responding through efforts to inform and unite people of different races and backgrounds.

A poster created by the HRC, expressing North’s stance in solidarity with the Jewish community, was torn down from a bulletin board during parent-teacher conferences, Thursday, Nov. 20. Several weeks later, a Swastika and the N-word were discovered on the walls of a North bathroom, Thursday, Dec. 11.

The Deans have identified the student responsible for the graffiti and followed disciplinary protocol, according to Riley House Dean Michelle Stauss.

“I think any sort of hate language or hate symbol is harmful and not a reflection of who we are as a school,” said English teacher Michele Leong, an advisor of the HRC.

According to senior Chloe Bruce, a member of the HRC, hate incidents are North are not uncommon. “Every year I’ve been at North there’s been at least one incident of this type,” she said.

According to Leong, the HRC is planning a full day of events Thursday, May 14, to combat these hate incidents. They plan to lead a panel on intersectional allyship, provide a space during lunch for students to learn about the detrimental effects of hate symbols, and host an annual rally during WIN.

Leong added that the HRC has given staff members the chance to hang posters around the school, which contain a message of solidarity for North’s entire community, in addition to a QR code to the district’s non-discrimination reporting form.