A principal at a suburban Seattle elementary school was suspended after criticizing swastika graffiti found at her school.
Heather Snookal sent a text alert to parents of students at Phantom Lake Elementary in Bellevue, Washington, on Monday.
Snookal told families that a fifth-grader discovered a swastika on a wall on campus and described it as a “symbol of hate.”
But she became incensed for failing to recognize that the Nazi emblem is also a peaceful symbol for several religions, including Buddhism and Hinduism.
After the text message, parents told them KOMO news they received an email addressing her language in the text message and apologized for calling it a hate symbol.
Snookal informed families that a fifth grade student discovered a swastika on a wall on campus and described it as a “symbol of hate.”
Her text read: ‘In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and other ancient cultures, the swastika is a symbol of peace, prosperity and happiness.
“We recognize that this symbol has a positive and spiritual meaning for many of our families, completely unrelated to the hateful associations it has acquired in more recent history.
‘As a school committed to inclusivity and cultural understanding, we want to ensure that our students from all backgrounds feel welcome, valued and celebrated.
“We also want to ensure that our community is educated about the diverse meanings and history behind symbols like the swastika so that we can all avoid misunderstandings that could inadvertently marginalize or hurt our students.”
But Snookal’s muddled communication ultimately offended everyone.
The symbol, which comes from ancient Sanskrit, was used by Hindus and Buddhists for centuries before being adopted by the Nazi Party in Germany.
Its use in religions usually has it pointing counterclockwise, while the Nazi version goes in the opposite direction.
Angry parents who spoke to KOMO called the messy communication “unacceptable” and said they sent Snookal an email on Monday expressing their displeasure.
Tirzah Dondanville told the outlet, “Essentially the conclusion was that it’s okay to have a swastika painted in a children’s school. To us the swastika means fear, terror and hatred.’
Eitan Gor added: ‘It is very clear that the intention in this case, painted on the wall with a specifically Nazi appearance, was intended to be a Nazi swastika.
‘I don’t think she meant badly, I think she understood the meaning of the symbol. It’s just not clear why the focus is on that.’
Before the end of the school day, the Bellevue School District decided to place Snookal on administrative leave while they investigate the matter.
Angry parents who spoke to the outlet called the communication “unacceptable” and said they sent Snookal an email on Monday expressing their displeasure
A close-up of a swastika at the Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo, it has been used to mark temples for centuries
In a statement, the Bellevue School District said, “There is absolutely no place for hate in the Bellevue School District.
“At a time when words and symbols are used to divide us, we are working with administrators, staff and students to call our community to courageous conversations to affirm each other’s cultures, beliefs and identities.
“We share in the burden and pain that our Jewish families feel regarding the rise in anti-Semitism locally and in our country.
“Bellevue, like other counties, has seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents, especially over the past year, and we are taking action to address this.
“Vandalism of a playground using a swastika is anti-Semitic and goes against our district’s commitment to building what Dr. King championed it as ‘The Beloved Community’ – a place where people truly care for each other, and there is no hunger, poverty, or hatred.
“We recognize the pain that any incident like this has on our entire community, but especially on our Jewish community.”