Someone used gasoline to burn a swastika into asphalt near a Denver elementary school playground overnight Monday, and authorities are investigating the incident.

The anti-Semitic vandalism happened at Ellis Elementary School, 1651 S. Dahlia St., Denver Public Schools officials confirmed.

“We condemn this act of hate speech,” Principal Nichole Whiteman said in a letter to parents of students.

School officials contacted Denver police and DPS security about the incident. Denver Fire Department investigators are also looking at it because of the arson.

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School officials do not believe that any students were exposed to the hate image, but they may have seen police on Tuesday investigating the scene. The Anti-Defamation League has been notified.

“The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) provides resources for talking to your children about incidents like this,” the letter said. “We will have the school psychologist…as well as [a] DPS crisis team available to assist students in coping with their feelings and concerns.”

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Swastikas and other hate symbols have been found at a variety of places in Colorado over the last few months including: Kent Denver School in Cherry Hills; Eaglecrest High School; Breckenridge; and outside a home in Fruita.

Colorado ranks third in the country for the highest number of white supremacist propaganda distributions, according to an ADL report released in January. In 2018, the state had at least 72 propaganda distributions.

Denver police were notified of the Ellis school vandalism at about 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, Doug Schepman, a department spokesman, said.

Investigators are looking at the incident as a “bias-motivated” crime. “We are trying to identify those involved,” he said.

Superintendent Susana Cordova released a statement to all DPS families and employees in the aftermath of the bigoted act.

“Hate will never be welcome in Denver Public Schools,” Cordova said in the statement. “We know that we must remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure that all members of the Denver Public Schools family feel welcome, appreciated and safe in our schools.

“We will continue to embrace and value the rich diversity within Denver Public Schools, and will always act quickly to prevent and address any and all issues of discrimination and harassment in our schools.”

Cordova referred to the act as “despicable” and she urged everyone “to stand united against hate.”