Buildings covered in pro-Palestinian phrases, trash fills hallways: reports
The cost to clean up vandalism and trash by pro-Palestinian protesters is mounting at universities all across the country this spring.
Demonstrations involving the Middle Eastern conflict have flared up on campuses again over the past week, resulting in dozens of arrests, canceled classes, property damage, blocked access to certain areas, and other safety concerns.
At California State Polytechnic University at Humboldt alone (pictured), administrators say the estimated cost to clean up trash and graffiti from the weekend protest is “in the millions,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
Pro-Palestinian students occupied several buildings on campus over the weekend, including Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall, according to the report.
A video on X shows the hallway of one administrative building covered in trash and graffiti, including the words “Free Palestine” written in black near the door to the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The phrase “Stop the genocide” was scrolled on the Office of the President, according to the video.
BREAKING: A look inside "Intifada Hall" at Cal Poly Humboldt. Students have "occupied and barricaded" two buildings and have encamped around them. pic.twitter.com/eFJxrDGADE
— Stu (@thestustustudio) April 27, 2024
The lawlessness led to administrators closing the campus Saturday and moving classes online, according to Just The News.
The University of Portland, a private Catholic institution in Oregon, also is spending thousands of dollars to clean up pro-Palestinian graffiti – “Free Palestine” and “Palestine” – found last week on two of its buildings, The Beacon reports.
“Unfortunately, because of the amount of work that’s required to remove and or paint over … we’re talking about thousands of dollars in damage most likely,” Campus Safety and Emergency Management Director Michael McNerney told the student newspaper. “This is a pretty serious crime at this point.”
Meanwhile, at the University of Vermont, campus police put the estimated cost to clean up about 40 pro-Palestine graffiti markings at more than $3,500, My NBC 5 reports.
Numerous other reports also attribute vandalism and litter to recent pro-Palestinian campus protests, but do not mention estimated clean-up costs.
One, a statue at the University of Pennsylvania, was vandalized over the weekend with what interim President Larry Jameson described as “antisemitic” graffiti, NBC 10 Philadelphia reports.
More was discovered at the University of Southern California early Saturday morning, according to ABC 7.
“Earlier Saturday, campus property – including the Tommy Trojan statue and a fountain in Alumni Park – was vandalized by individuals who are part of the group that has continued to illegally camp on our campus,” Joel Curran, senior vice president of communications, said in a statement. “Despite repeated warnings, this group has also continued to disrupt our campus operations and harass students and others, in violation of numerous university policies.”
Emory University, a private school in Atlanta, Georgia, also was hit with pro-Palestinian vandalism last week, including the words “Free Palestine” and “Emory must divest” spray-painted on three campus buildings, The Emory Wheel reports.
MORE: Pro-Gaza protesters thrash Calif. campus building, replace U.S. flag with Palestinian one at Harvard
IMAGE: X screenshot
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