After discovering apparently racist graffiti on the Bainbridge Dance Center campus, artistic director Christiana Axelsen was inspired to organize an outreach event aimed at confronting the ideology behind such expressions.
The graffiti, “consisting of swastikas and white supremacist symbols,” Axelsen said, was recently found painted on the fence facing the school.
“We filed a report with the police, removed the graffiti and installed better lighting and motion activated cameras on the back of our building to deter further vandalism,” she said. “We think [it] is an opportunity to engage more actively with our community in a conversation around hate.”
A special fundraiser event, BDC’s Dance Class Against Hate, will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20 at Bainbridge Dance Center. Admission is by donation ($15 suggested), and it’s open to all ages.
“All proceeds will go to the Southern Poverty Law Center to support their work fighting hate, teaching tolerance and seeking justice,” Axelsen said.
Learn more at www.bainbridgedancecenter.com.
Due to “certain juvenile aspects of the graffiti,” Axelsen said dance center officials assume the vandalism was “an isolated act by a young person expressing anger or frustration.”
“But these are symbols of mass murder that are particularly chilling in today’s climate of intolerance,” she added. “We welcome advice, support, and ideas for further action from community groups, faith groups, schools or local businesses that have experienced something similar.”
