San Francisco police said they are investigating spray-painted vandalism found today on an outdoor wall at the French American International School as a possible hate crime.
An image of a crescent moon surrounded by an eight-point star over the number 7 is believed to have been painted overnight in a playground area at the school, located at 150 Oak St. in the city’s Hayes Valley neighborhood, according to police and posts online about the vandalism.
The symbol appears to be affiliated with the “Five-Percent Nation,” an offshoot of the Nation of Islam founded in New York and often cited in hip-hop lyrics.
The bilingual school has 1,080 students from pre-kindergarten through high school at three campuses in San Francisco, including at the main building on Oak Street. Twenty-three percent of the students are French nationals. The Oak Street building is shared with the Chinese American International School.
Anyone with information about the vandalism has been asked to contact the San Francisco police tip line at (415) 575-4444.
Scott Morris, Bay City News
