Racist graffiti was spray-painted on multiple buildings in the Library Mall area on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Two buildings connected to the university, including University Book Store and the Extension Building were affected, as were several city and privately-owned properties.
Among the messages spray-painted on buildings were “Aryan Brotherhood,” and “White Lives Matter Most.” After examining security camera footage, police arrested a 71-year-old White man and charged him with five counts of criminal damage to property.
The university issued a statement saying that “these racist messages run counter to university values. UW-Madison does not tolerate racist behaviors. We value a diverse community where all members feel welcome, safe, and supported.”
In light of this heinous act, do you have an actual date when this crime occurred? I’ve seen too many crimes against Black persons that slowly bubble up in the press ….sometimes several months after the fact. That delay gives ‘others’ an excuse to say…”well, this happened xxxxxxx ago….” That too has got to stop.
A disgusted Wisconsin graduate
Oh, if only UW-Madison were invested in anti-racism on its campus. There’s a reason why this racist felt empowered to spray paint hate on the campus buildings. He didn’t expect any serious consequences, and, based on my experiences as a former grad student and teaching assistant, I doubt there were any. On a “positive” note, however, UW-Madison is deeply committed to window-washing.