‘It’s Okay to be White’ posters found at two high schools

KITCHENER — Posters inciting racial tensions were found pasted to the front doors of two local high schools this week.

Waterloo Region District School Board spokesperson Nick Manning said custodians arrived at Eastwood Collegiate Institute and Grand River Collegiate Institute Monday morning to find the posters affixed to the school’s doors.

The posters read: “It’s Okay to be White.”

Manning said the posters, which could have been put up over the weekend, came to the attention of the school board via angry residents.

“We know from experience that there is racist motivation behind this type of action,” he said.

“We want our schools to be safe spaces,” Manning said. “We will not tolerate any form of injustice or intolerance.”

The posters appear to be associated with an internet prank that was started to incite racial tension. Similar posters were seen on campuses in the United States last week. The posters were also seen on city streets.

The slogan appears to have originated on an online chat space known as 4chan; it appears that the message was created to encourage social unrest and white nationalist ideas.

Manning said pranks of this nature must be addressed in a serious manner.

“If it’s only a prank, we won’t tolerate it,” he said. “We want to send a message to our students and to our communities that our schools are safe for everyone.”

Manning said staff at Eastwood spoke to some students who arrived early on Monday and may have seen the posters.

Waterloo Regional Police are aware of the incident and ask anyone who may have information to call them at 519-570-9777.