Cleveland’s Case Western Reserve University Vandalized with Antisemitic Graffiti Amid Campus Cleanup Efforts

Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland was the target of vandalism earlier yesterday, as buildings, structures, and artwork across the campus were defaced with graffiti and posters. As reported by

Signal Cleveland

, university officials described some of the messages and symbols as antisemitic, declining to detail the extent of the areas affected. The university is actively investigating and has denounced the defacement. “We strongly condemn the actions of these individuals and are investigating the incidents. Any individual found to have been involved in vandalizing our campus will be subject to the relevant university conduct process and criminal charges,” stated university officials.

One of the marked sites included a brick wall with the words “Free Palestine Sudan Congo Haiti Lebanon” written in bold red paint, as disclosed by

Cleveland Jewish News

. The act comes months after pro-Palestinian protests and discussions involving the university’s investments in Israel. The incident prompted restoration teams to close off parts of the campus as they commenced cleanup efforts. Students voiced their dismay, with CWRU graduate student Tasfiqur Rob stating via

FOX8

, “I don’t think that the idea of throwing red paint around in the quad, which as you can see, blocked off a lot of campus, or marking up statues or putting paint on buildings is the best way to go about this.”

In the eyes of several students, the vandals’ approach obscured any intended messages, particularly undermining the memory of a respected professor. A statue of Dr. Ignacio Ocasio, affectionately known as “Doc Oc,” was among the damaged, with red paint splattered on its hands. “He basically gave his life to this university teaching and I guess the message trying to be sent was that there was blood on Case Western Reserve’s hands for not allowing some certain divestment,” explained Tasfiqur Rob in a statement to

FOX8

.

Additional coverage from Cleveland Jewish News included a video showing workers cleaning red handprints and glued posters from campus windows and doors. Case Western Reserve University has been compelled to reevaluate its policies to discourage such destructive protests following the disruption. Though supportive of freedom of speech and expression, students have criticized methods that inhibit their educational experiences. “It doesn’t really send a message of ‘we should be doing something for Palestinian students on campus or for that conflict in that region,'” Rob added in a statement obtained by

FOX8

, voicing a shared sentiment among the student body.

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