They might be juveniles but their parents aren’t. They are learning this behavior from someone. Maybe charge the parents with these crimes and call them out for not being more responsible for their kid’s actions.
The rise of white nationalism on the internet, with the likes of Nick Fuentes, means kids' parents aren't always the ones to blame. Kids can radicalize themselves online without their parents ever knowing--and what better way to rebel against your liberal parents than becoming a Groyper.
I don't think "Nazi symbols" accurately characterizes the graffiti. Based on the photo at the end of the article, there was also at least one antisemitic statement (Hitler was right). It's odd that this description was not included in the body of the article and that the graffiti was only characterized as racist and anti-black. Given the explosion of antisemitism among Gen Z and America's younger generations, I think it was a disservice not to mention the nature of all the graffiti more explicitly in the article. A swastika by itself might be dismissed as an ignorant attempt to be edgy. A swastika accompanied by the phrase "Hitler was right" conveys a far more sinister message.
I had this discussion with Swindell, who shares your opinion. I thought the fact that it was located near a black family's residence and that all the words were specifically racist, that this was meant to be anti-black and white supremacist. Nazis also didn't like black people. But I see your point. I'll add the word "anti-semitic" to the article.
I appreciate that, Laura. I understand why you covered the story the way you did given the prior instances of racism targeting this family, which is definitely unacceptable and alarming. While you're correct that the Nazis didn't like black people, I have yet to see a person say "Hitler was right" when referring to anyone or anything other than Jews. Again, I'm glad you covered the story and I'm not trying to diminish the impact this had on anyone else, I just felt like article did not fully reflect the situation given the photo at the end of the story. Thank you for your responsiveness.
I agree with Denise that the article should have included discussion of the graffiti supporting Hitler. These juveniles may or may not know the significance of their actions. It expressed hatred to black people as well as all who Hitler persecuted and killed. That included jewish people, gays and lesbians, artists who expressed anti-fascism and anyone who opposed the Nazis. Under Donald Trump, the white so-called christian nationalists (they aren’t christians) who are in his cabinet, and MAGA supporters this behaviour is encouraged. More than 75,000,000 voters are to blame for voting for Donald Trump.
Anally, and some parents, need to teach a couple of desperately needed lessons to students who missed a few basics human rules from kindergarten: Besides, don’t toss your garbage on the ground expecting others to clean it up for you … but also, don’t be mean, cruel, hateful or threaten others with your words and actions.
My father was an infantryman (42nd Inf. Division) at the liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp. When I was 5 years-old I painted a swastika on a wall. He didn't beat me because he thought if he started, he would not be able to stop. Concentration camps were factories to kill humans. Isis is nothing compared to the Nazis.
Should any teacher, school administrator, civic group, be interested in having a descendent of Holocaust survivors come to speak about how the horrors of the Nazi regime affected them, and the dangers of letting acts of racism/intolerance/bullying go unanswered, contact the Sonoma County Holocaust Story Project.
If you click on Steve’s link you’ll find that this group presents age-appropriate history to students from the 5th through 12th grade. I hope that this group is invited to Analy!
The quick response (and success!) and Chief McDonagh's email make one feel good about Sebastopol City Police. Well done.
With regard to the significance of the racism and anti-semitism expressed by the young deviants, I will personally wait for more evidence before I consider this act as an indicator of an "explosion" of anti-semitism. It might have been done by the same Analy students I came upon inside Safeway, several months ago, stuffing a knapsack with stuff that they then walked out of the store without paying for. In every population of individuals there is a bell curve of capabilities for every trait - in this case civility - where some are exemplarily "good" and some are notoriously "bad". Where the median lies is the critical issue. And we need more evidence to see where that point lies.
The explosion of antisemitism I referred to was not based on this one act of graffiti. If this had happened five years ago, I would have assumed that the kids responsible believed they were being edgy, and nothing more. And I hope that is all this is. But the explosion I referred to is based on data that consistently shows a sharp rise in explicitly anti-Jewish (not just anti-zionist or anti-Israel) views harbored by young Americans. For example: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/12/american-anti-semitism-youth/685261/
History has shown that once it becomes mainstream, antisemitism is almost impossible to shut down. Which is why confronting it before it's too late is imperative.
I guess, for me, anti-semitism is so passé that I hadn't even considered it might be extant among the clueless kids who paint grafitti. I guess I still think of anti-semitism as being reflected in acceptance to country clubs and educational institutions, etc.
But I still stand by my idea that we need more evidence before we draw any conclusions about an "explosion" among Sebastopol teenagers.
They might be juveniles but their parents aren’t. They are learning this behavior from someone. Maybe charge the parents with these crimes and call them out for not being more responsible for their kid’s actions.
The rise of white nationalism on the internet, with the likes of Nick Fuentes, means kids' parents aren't always the ones to blame. Kids can radicalize themselves online without their parents ever knowing--and what better way to rebel against your liberal parents than becoming a Groyper.
Find the punks and take the parents to court. Time to stop being 'understanding' of sociopathic behavior.
I don't think "Nazi symbols" accurately characterizes the graffiti. Based on the photo at the end of the article, there was also at least one antisemitic statement (Hitler was right). It's odd that this description was not included in the body of the article and that the graffiti was only characterized as racist and anti-black. Given the explosion of antisemitism among Gen Z and America's younger generations, I think it was a disservice not to mention the nature of all the graffiti more explicitly in the article. A swastika by itself might be dismissed as an ignorant attempt to be edgy. A swastika accompanied by the phrase "Hitler was right" conveys a far more sinister message.
I also reached out to Analy principal Chuck Wade to see if he was seeing a "Nick Fuentes" influence at the school.
Thank you. Very curious to know what, if anything, the school is doing to combat this growing issue.
I had this discussion with Swindell, who shares your opinion. I thought the fact that it was located near a black family's residence and that all the words were specifically racist, that this was meant to be anti-black and white supremacist. Nazis also didn't like black people. But I see your point. I'll add the word "anti-semitic" to the article.
I appreciate that, Laura. I understand why you covered the story the way you did given the prior instances of racism targeting this family, which is definitely unacceptable and alarming. While you're correct that the Nazis didn't like black people, I have yet to see a person say "Hitler was right" when referring to anyone or anything other than Jews. Again, I'm glad you covered the story and I'm not trying to diminish the impact this had on anyone else, I just felt like article did not fully reflect the situation given the photo at the end of the story. Thank you for your responsiveness.
I agree with Denise that the article should have included discussion of the graffiti supporting Hitler. These juveniles may or may not know the significance of their actions. It expressed hatred to black people as well as all who Hitler persecuted and killed. That included jewish people, gays and lesbians, artists who expressed anti-fascism and anyone who opposed the Nazis. Under Donald Trump, the white so-called christian nationalists (they aren’t christians) who are in his cabinet, and MAGA supporters this behaviour is encouraged. More than 75,000,000 voters are to blame for voting for Donald Trump.
Anally, and some parents, need to teach a couple of desperately needed lessons to students who missed a few basics human rules from kindergarten: Besides, don’t toss your garbage on the ground expecting others to clean it up for you … but also, don’t be mean, cruel, hateful or threaten others with your words and actions.
It’s 2026, grow up!
Thank you Laura for shining a laser on this!
My father was an infantryman (42nd Inf. Division) at the liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp. When I was 5 years-old I painted a swastika on a wall. He didn't beat me because he thought if he started, he would not be able to stop. Concentration camps were factories to kill humans. Isis is nothing compared to the Nazis.
Should any teacher, school administrator, civic group, be interested in having a descendent of Holocaust survivors come to speak about how the horrors of the Nazi regime affected them, and the dangers of letting acts of racism/intolerance/bullying go unanswered, contact the Sonoma County Holocaust Story Project.
Holocaust Story Project
https://holocauststoryproject.org
If you click on Steve’s link you’ll find that this group presents age-appropriate history to students from the 5th through 12th grade. I hope that this group is invited to Analy!
The quick response (and success!) and Chief McDonagh's email make one feel good about Sebastopol City Police. Well done.
With regard to the significance of the racism and anti-semitism expressed by the young deviants, I will personally wait for more evidence before I consider this act as an indicator of an "explosion" of anti-semitism. It might have been done by the same Analy students I came upon inside Safeway, several months ago, stuffing a knapsack with stuff that they then walked out of the store without paying for. In every population of individuals there is a bell curve of capabilities for every trait - in this case civility - where some are exemplarily "good" and some are notoriously "bad". Where the median lies is the critical issue. And we need more evidence to see where that point lies.
The explosion of antisemitism I referred to was not based on this one act of graffiti. If this had happened five years ago, I would have assumed that the kids responsible believed they were being edgy, and nothing more. And I hope that is all this is. But the explosion I referred to is based on data that consistently shows a sharp rise in explicitly anti-Jewish (not just anti-zionist or anti-Israel) views harbored by young Americans. For example: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/12/american-anti-semitism-youth/685261/
History has shown that once it becomes mainstream, antisemitism is almost impossible to shut down. Which is why confronting it before it's too late is imperative.
Your point is well taken.
I guess, for me, anti-semitism is so passé that I hadn't even considered it might be extant among the clueless kids who paint grafitti. I guess I still think of anti-semitism as being reflected in acceptance to country clubs and educational institutions, etc.
But I still stand by my idea that we need more evidence before we draw any conclusions about an "explosion" among Sebastopol teenagers.