Pushback emerges among donors and employers as rising incidents of antisemitism on American campuses continue to cause concern. The latest incident occurred at Boston University, where the exterior of a Jewish campus organization’s building was defaced with graffiti reading, “Free Palestine.” The Boston University Police Department and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office have launched an investigation into the vandalism.
The targeted organization, the Florence & Chafetz Hillel House, serves as a place of worship and a community center for the Jewish population on the campus. Located on Bay State Road with views of the Charles River, the $16 million facility is a prominent landmark.
Authorities responded to a call reporting the vandalism on Tuesday evening. Upon arrival, Hillel staff members informed the police that an unknown person had tagged an exterior window of the building. The graffiti, which read “Free Palestine,” was written over a preexisting blue and white sign displaying the message, “We Stand with Israel.”
In a campus-wide letter, Executive Director and University Chaplain Rabbi Jevin Eagle expressed his deep concern for the Jewish community, stating that the act of vandalism has left them “shaken” and “disheartened.” He praised the swift response from Boston University, the BU Police, and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, emphasizing that the incident is being investigated as a religious hate crime.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office released a statement confirming that the graffiti was a targeted act. They have pledged to work closely with BU Police to identify, apprehend, and prosecute the responsible individual. The spokesperson for the district attorney’s office emphasized their strong stance against hate crimes, stating that “hate crimes in any form are intolerable and anyone charged with committing them will pay the consequences.”
As incidents of antisemitism rise across the country, Jewish Americans are increasingly turning to firearms to protect themselves and their families. The Jewish community hopes that the swift response and diligent investigation by authorities in this case will send a strong message that such acts of hatred will not be tolerated.
