Local Muslim community leaders are calling for a hate crime investigation into vandalism at the University of Minnesota. This isn’t the first incident this week, either.
The University of Minnesota is calling this the second hate based incident on campus in the last 48 hours.
Someone spray painted “ISIS” on the Muslim Student Association sign. It was found Thursday morning on the Washington Avenue Walking Bridge. The spray paint has since been covered up with white paint. Many around campus today were appalled at the message.
“It really comes down to fear for me. Whoever wrote that is afraid of what is happening and doesn’t have the guts to stand up and ask the questions about what are we really looking at and concerned about and how can we all work together,” says one man on campus.
Two female students told our photographer, “I think it’s horrible. I think it’s just really bad and like they are vandalizing. It’s hateful it’s bad.”
The first incident this week involved the student group “Students For Justice in Palestine.” The group reports that posters have been passed around campus linking the student group to Hamas.
President Eric Kaler released a statement today saying, “We condemn these incidents. They are abhorrent actions that will not be tolerated on our campus. The University of Minnesota must be a safe and welcome campus for all students, including, members of our Muslim community.”
