According to officials, facilities at the University of Rochester in New York were vandalized with “wanted” posters that targeted a number of Jewish staff members, leading to the arrest of four students on felony charges.
According to a news statement issued Tuesday by the university’s public safety officer, Quchee Collins, the four students were charged with felony criminal mischief, and a fifth is under investigation.
Their identities are still unknown.
“I am incredibly satisfied that through a thorough investigation we were able to identify those who are allegedly responsible and hold them accountable for the deliberate and deplorable actions targeted toward members of our University community, including members of our Jewish population,” Collins stated.
The harassment and intimidation of members of the school community “saddened” Sarah Mangelsdorf, president of the university.
In a message to the community, Mangelsdorf stated, “Those depicted, their families, and other members of our Jewish community have been instilled with credible fear by the posters identifying faculty, staff, and board members.” “I want to emphasize that antisemitism will not be accepted on behalf of the Board of Trustees, my senior leadership team, and myself. I want everyone who was singled out to know that they have our undying support.
After learning about the posters last week, the university’s Department of Public Safety started taking them down right away. According to Collins, the posters’ powerful adhesive made it difficult to remove them, resulting in “damage to walls, floors, chalkboards, and other surfaces.”
They were located in classrooms as well as other buildings on campus.
According to Rochester’s NBC station WHEC, the posters listed specific university employees and instructors and accused them of war crimes connected to the Gaza War.
According to Collins, the event does not fit the legal criteria for being a hate crime, but this could change as the case progresses.
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