SWAMPSCOTT, Mass. — The search is on for whoever scrawled swastikas and racial slurs at a middle school and on Swampscott sidewalks.
Diane Ratner told FOX25's Robert Goulston she was walking her dog when she made the discovery.
"It's awful, you're angry and sad. It's a mix of emotions,” she said.
The swastikas and slurs were written in some sort of chalk that DPW officials say wasn't easy to get off so it needed to be painted over.
Earlier this week similar swastikas and slurs were found in the lot and on the windows of Swampscott Middle School.
"I can't say what the motivation might be in this case," Swampscott Police Chief Ron Madigan said.
Police are looking for leads so they can make arrests.
Meanwhile community members and leaders gathered near town hall to show support for all of the area residents.
"It's heartwarming to see the community drop everything, come together like this and show solidarity,” State Rep. Lori Ehrlich said.
The community is also working with the Anti-Defamation League to prevent it from happening again especially if it was a childhood prank.
"Education really is the key here. To make sure children understand the nature of these symbols. The nature of what they are doing,” Melissa Garlick from the Anti-Defamation League said.