Calvert County, MD – Three 13-year-old students from Plum Point Middle School in Calvert County face juvenile charges for harassment and hate crimes, as announced by Maryland State Police. The charges come after the students were found displaying swastikas, performing Nazi salutes, and hurling offensive comments targeted at a classmate’s religious beliefs.
The incidents, which began in December 2023 and spanned several months, led to the victim reporting the behavior to law enforcement. Despite multiple requests to cease their actions, the accused students persisted in their harassment, culminating in the formal charges based on violations of Maryland’s stringent hate crimes statutes.
The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) is set to review the charges, with the possibility of referring the case to the Calvert County Circuit Court. Here, the allegations must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt during an adjudicatory hearing.
In a public statement, Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey expressed dismay over the incident, highlighting Maryland’s foundational principle of religious toleration. Harvey emphasized, “It is frankly astonishing that nearly 400 years later some people continue to persecute others based on their religion.” He urged parents, educators, and leaders within the community and faith organizations to reinforce the message that religious persecution is unacceptable in modern society.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing hate crimes and harassment within educational institutions and the broader community. It also serves as a call to action for societal reflection and the implementation of more robust educational programs to combat intolerance.
