Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart has issued the following statement in response to an incident of vandalism in Lake Zurich yesterday that included swastikas being spray painted on the wall and playground equipment of Seth Paine Elementary School:

I was deeply saddened to learn that an elementary school in one of our Lake County communities was vandalized with swastikas. Messages of hate do not reflect who we are as a county, and I join with other community leaders in condemning them in the strongest possible way.

Lake County's strength is rooted in our people and their diversity. People of all races, religions, countries of origin, sexual orientation, genders, incomes and abilities are welcome here.
Whenever there are instances of hate in our community, it is incumbent upon us to speak out and denounce them, and remind people that those messages go against the very core of our values. Even then, our work does not end—we must continue to have conversations with our children, our families, and each other about what it means to be an inclusive community and why it is so important.

As we ring in the New Year, I want to reassure all those who live, work and visit Lake County that you are welcome. We will continue to promote inclusion and understanding, and to actively stand up against hate and intolerance.