An investigation is underway after members of a UC San Diego Jewish fraternity found antisemitic graffiti spray-painted on the walls of their home in University City over the weekend, San Diego police said.
Read more Seven people who died in separate crashes identified
The graffiti, which investigators are treating as a suspected hate crime and vandalism, occurred some time between Friday and Saturday night, police said. The vandal entered the home and defaced interior and exterior walls of the students’ residence.
In a statement sent to the campus’ students and staff, UCSD Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla said university administration was aware of the incident and that they would be supporting impacted students through psychological services and assistance programs.
“To have a residence vandalized with swastikas and other discriminatory language is abhorrent and unacceptable,” Khosla said in the statement. “We condemn this vile act, and will not accept hate or antisemitism toward anyone in our community.”
A reward of up to $2,000 is being offered by San Diego Crime Stoppers, the San Diego GLBTQ+ Historic Task Force and the Hate Crime Fund for information leading to an arrest in the case.
The students’ chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi released a statement calling the graffiti a deliberate act meant to intimidate Jewish students.
“Let us be clear: it will not succeed,” the chapter said in a statement posted on social media. “AEPi will not be silenced or deterred. We remain proud of our Jewish identity and values.”
The fraternity’s statement called on UCSD to bring educational programs to the campus community to combat antisemitism and break “down barriers of ignorance and hate.”
The Finest Community Coalition, a group of 48 local San Diego Jewish organizations, issued a statement in support of the students and Jewish fraternity on Sunday, offering its support to the students through both AEPi and Hillel of San Diego.
“Hate like this is meant to make Jewish life smaller and quieter,” the coalition’s statement read. “In San Diego, it does the opposite. Our community will only be louder, prouder and more visible because of it.”
After hearing of the hateful graffiti, Tazheen Nizam, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ San Diego chapter, issued a statement condemning the vandalism.
“No student or community member should be subjected to harassment, intimidation or hatred because of their religious or ethnic identity,” Nizam said. “We urge the university community and law enforcement to take all incidents of hate vandalism seriously, support those targeted, and work to ensure that all students can live, study and participate in campus life without fear.”
Investigators asked anyone with information about the vandalism to contact the San Diego police Criminal Intelligence Unit at 619-531-2331 or the Crime Stoppers tip line at 888-580-8477. Anonymous tips can also be made at sdcrimestoppers.org.
Read more Sharp HealthCare announces restructuring that will impact about 260 workers
