A community in Cincinnati is up in arms after signs segregating a high school's water fountains appeared.
The signs were posted on the water fountains on May 5. Colerain High School Principal Erin Davis quickly sent out a letter to all student parents, vowing to discipline the culprits once they had been identified.
"These water fountains were labeled 'Blacks only,' 'whites only,' which pushed us back so many generations," one parent told local news station, Fox 19. "My heart dropped. My heart dropped. I could not believe it. It was so offensive."
Some parents are calling it a hate crime.
The Northwest Local School District is trying hard to calm the fears of its community. A spokesperson called the incident "unacceptable on all levels" and a deviation from the district's "culture of inclusivity, respect, kindness and compassion for everyone."
"Upon investigation of the matter, we have learned that the notes posted over the water fountains were posted for a matter of 30 seconds and were never seen by other students or staff members," the spokesperson said. "The three students involved in the incident posted the signs, took photos and removed the notes before posting the photos online."
The school also threatened to discipline any students who shared the image online.
However, another parent told the news outlet that this racial incident is not an isolated one.
"I'm a product of Colerain High School, Colerain Northwest Local, and when I was in school there... oh my God... there was the 'n' word on the wall and in the bathroom and all kinds of stuff," they told the news station anonymously. "And back then, nothing happened. We just had to take it, suck it up and move on."