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By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Special Correspondent
In the early hours of June 22, students, parents, and teachers became aware that the rainbow crosswalk stretching between Blake Middle School and Medfield High School had been vandalized. The perpetrators had thrown green and blue paint onto the rainbow, smothering a portion of the colorful crosswalk. The perpetrators were quickly identified.
The rainbow crosswalk is a collaboration of two clubs at Medfield High School: Harmony and National Art Honor Society. Members of Harmony, Medfield High School's LGBTQA club, had been discussing rainbow crosswalks during one of their meetings. A member of the club had shown Mary Garcia, the club's advisor, a picture of a rainbow crosswalk that had recently been installed at the college her friend attended. Shortly after, a member of the National Art Honor Society proposed painting a rainbow crosswalk somewhere on campus. Members of Harmony were eager to be involved with the project.
Both schools have been trying to ensure that students feel welcomed and accepted. The middle school recently established its own LGBTQA club. The crosswalk would represent a bridge to the high school as the students transitioned between the schools. Jeffrey Marsden, the superintendent of Medfield Public Schools, sent out an email to parents about the incident. He included how the crosswalk had been important for the community: “the crosswalk was painted to symbolize that our school community is a welcoming and accepting place to learn … We will continue to work with our students, staff, and community to foster a safe learning environment for all.”
It took weeks to paint the original crosswalk due to extensive rain. Once students were guaranteed a sunny day, they went outside, armed with buckets filled with paint and brushes. They finished the crosswalk in May, just before seniors had their last day of classes. Students expected to add a second coat of paint when they resumed classes in the fall.
Garcia received text messages and calls from fellow teachers early the next morning. Her inbox contained numerous emails from frantic students and parents asking what they should do. She is aware that many Medfield residents wanted to help repaint the crosswalk. “I feel bad that we didn’t involve the community,” she says, “but the kids were like, ‘This is our school, we have to fix it.’”
The morning of June 23, eight students, Garcia, and another teacher met at the crosswalk. Once again armed with paint and brushes, they carefully painted over the defaced rainbow. Garcia mentions that she is extremely proud of the students: “They showed up, they painted … on a blistering hot day."
Just days into their summer vacation, students returned to the crosswalk and made the rainbow more brighter than before.
Though they were unable to repaint the crosswalk, residents rallied to show their support. Some drew chalk rainbows in their driveways. Some raised rainbow flags. Some went to add their own messages on the crosswalk: “Love Wins,” “Support LGBT students,” “Love is stronger than hate,” “Pride.”
Within a few hours, messages of love and support covered the green and blue splotches.
The vandalism has sparked a plethora of ideas for how to make Medfield a more welcoming community. Some have suggested adding more colorful crosswalks to show support for other groups, such as police officers, and the armed forces. Others have suggested giving each of the local public schools a rainbow crosswalk.
Today, the vibrant rainbow crosswalk ensures students that they are welcomed members of this community.
