Pro-Palestinian protesters at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, were spray-painted early Tuesday morning by a contractor as they stood in front of the campus Spirit Wall, which had been hijacked by Hamas supporters and painted with anti- Message from Israel. Protesters wearing clear plastic masks stood directly in front of the wall, trying to stop contractors from completing their work. The CWRU’s pro-Hamas camp is now in its second week.
Video released by the school’s Students for Justice in Palestine showed a contractor spray-painting protesters, one covered in white paint. The group posted the footage to Instagram, saying in mostly all-caps: “Around 5 a.m. this morning, students were spray-painted while contractors called in by CWRU attempted to cover the spirit wall. Later, closer to noon, They covered the entire wall with paint. The students followed the spirit wall posting policy, but the administrators still have issues with this university’s efforts to defend Zionist genocidal interests.
Copy of Instagram video:
Contractors hired to paint Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio, decided protesters wouldn’t stop them from working today pic.twitter.com/QuF6tsJnj4
— Dixie (@OSiiNT) May 7, 2024
Video published by Cleveland.com
Case Western Reserve University President Eric Kahler issued a statement Wednesday condemning the protesters’ spray-painting:
An update on the nightly events at Wall of Souls
To the Case Western Reserve community:Earlier today, I wrote to you to note that the school was investigating an incident in which an individual attacked student protesters with paint by scrawling protesters’ writing on a spirit wall. I’ve seen video clips of students blocking the walls as a third-party contractor spray-painted directly at protesters as they tried to finish painting the walls, and I was disturbed by what was happening.
Let me be clear: No student or individual should be treated this way, especially on a campus where our core values center on providing a safe, welcoming environment. This is not who we are as an institution and I am deeply sorry that this happened.
The University will continue to fully investigate these actions and hold individuals accountable for such actions, including the failure of our own officers to intervene.
I would like to reiterate my sincere apologies for this matter. We will take action to hold anyone accountable for violations of our Code of Conduct.
Sincerely,
Eric W. Kahler
President
Kahler previously issued a statement criticizing protesters for painting “threatening, intimidating and anti-Semitic” messages on campus walls.
Responding to Threatening Statements on University Property: May 7, 2024
To the Case Western Reserve community:I fully support the right of individuals to share their views in accordance with our free speech policy. However, this policy – and the core values that define our university – have been violated repeatedly over the past eight days, including yesterday afternoon when protesters held an unsanctioned encampment on Kelvin Smith Library Oval, A message painted on a wall near Dredd Hall read “university administration and many members of our community consider this to be threatening, intimidating and anti-Semitic.”
As I have said time and time again, constructive, meaningful communication should never involve behavior that harasses, incites, or threatens and intimidates our community. I strongly condemn the language posted on the wall yesterday and want to reiterate to our entire community that this type of language – no matter who it is directed at – will not be tolerated on our campus.
After defacing the propaganda wall, protesters later that night painted a spirit wall near the Swain Center with language that was less threatening, but still frightening to some in our community. The university has painted its promotional wall and will finish painting its spirit wall this morning. The university is investigating an incident in which one or more protesters blocking the spirit wall were hit with paint.
Students involved in yesterday’s advocacy for the mural, as well as those who continue to violate university policy by remaining camped on unapproved private property, will be held fully accountable for their actions during the conduct. Any faculty member who engages in activity that violates the free speech policy (which is what this camp does) will also be required to submit to a conduct process. The conduct of all participants, whether within or outside the CWRU community, may also violate criminal or civil laws.
I understand and recognize the importance of advocating for a cause that is deeply personal and undeniably tragic, given the war between Israel and Hamas and the resulting loss of life in Israel and Gaza. But a cause’s initiative is most persuasive when it returns to the core values on which Case Western Reserve is founded, including responsibility, civility and ethical conduct. I urge student protesters to dismantle the encampment and begin student conduct proceedings.
Sincerely,
Eric W. Kahler
According to WOIO-TV, the mayor and police chief of Cleveland issued a joint statement:
Mayor Justin Bieber and Chief Anne Todd respond to recent events on CWRU campus
In light of recent footage circulating from the CWRU campus showing people covered in spray paint, it is critical that we make our stance clear.
Cleveland is a city for everyone, and we must respect the thoughts, feelings and voices of people from all backgrounds. These diverse perspectives make us unique as a city and ultimately stronger. Our communities deserve a place where they can express themselves publicly and constitutionally without fear of criminal interference. We support First Amendment rights and implore CWRU leadership to consider this and think about how the decisions they make and actions they take (especially against those who follow the law) will impact some of the things we have collectively achieved as a city. progress. In the meantime, we urge individuals to demonstrate peacefully.
We want to make it clear that we condemn all forms of violence and the Police Department stands ready to provide support should this occur. Public safety has always been and will always be our number one priority.
Mayor Bieber and Chief Todd
WOIO also reported that a student protester named Raissa complained about this incident:
“This is a pressurized spray gun that sprays harmful chemicals containing carcinogens and toxins with absolutely no regard for the health or well-being of the people who pay to be here,” Raisa said.
“We had some students ask the police how they could do this. The painters acted like they were following orders. The police said we were following orders from higher administration and I guess they didn’t think about the ethics of what they were doing.
Video of the camp posted earlier Monday:
Case Western Reserve University issued a dispersal order Thursday. Protesters appeared to double down on their efforts, taking over the entire mall. Tensions were building when I first encountered about 10 non-hostile protesters who asked me to identify myself. pic.twitter.com/272W90wM84
— Dan Stamness (@DStamness) May 6, 2024
Campus protests continued Wednesday night:
On the 11th day of encampment, students at Case Western Reserve University held a sit-in outside the university administration building. pic.twitter.com/kwpbTvw66v
— Samer Badawi (@readsamerbadawi) May 9, 2024
