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Students, Staff React To Racist Vandalism

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-795662.mp3

Kansas City, MO – Just before Halloween, Olivia Sullivan was walking to a friend's car when some students called her over to look at some racial graffiti scrawled on the rear windshield of her own car parked nearby. The Shawnee Mission East junior later learned that a former friend and some of his buddies, caught on the school security tapes, were responsible for the vandalism. The school immediately contacted authorities - both the Prairie Village police and Johnson County District Attorneys office. After reviewing the case, the DA's office decided that under Kansas Law the boys had not committed a crime, and no charges are being filed.

KCUR's Laura Ziegler went out to Shawnee Mission East to speak with Olivia Sullivan about the incident and why she thinks it happened. Laura also spoke with Principal Karl Krawitz about the school's response while KC Currents' Alex Smith spoke to students about their perceptions of racism at the school.

This story was produced for KC Currents. To listen on your own schedule, subscribe to the KC Currents Podcast .

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