PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — In the wake of anti-sematic statements spray painted on buildings and sidewalks on the Bradley University campus, the head of one of the main Jewish organizations said people need to keep up their level of respect and dignity.
Sometime Thursday night or early Friday morning, a person painted “Free Palestine, AEPi supports Genocide.” on the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house at the university as well as on sidewalks near Bradley Hall and Dingledine Hall. AEPi is a national fraternity that is known to be predominantly Jewish.
Hillel director Matt Lorch said such actions aren’t productive as they don’t solve anything. Instead, it’s pure antisemitism. Hillel is a national Jewish student organization.
“The reason why this antisemitic in nature is when you do any sort of vandalism on a Jewish building, it doesn’t help anyone. It doesn’t free anyone. It doesn’t solve the crisis between Israel and Hamas. You are targeting a Jewish organization because they are Jewish. That’s antisemitism,” he said.
Instead, he said that people must learn how to respect each other and not resort to such tactics.
The university sent out a statement to students and faculty, saying the acts of the vandals were “completely against the fabric of who we are as a University.”
“Overnight, the Bradley University Police Department (BUPD) responded to acts of vandalism and intimidation that were directly targeting members of our Jewish community. These acts occurred at three separate locations across our campus, and are being investigated by BUPD. These acts are completely against the fabric of who we are as a University. Bradley University has no tolerance for acts of bias, hatred, violence, or intimidation toward ANY member of our community. Regardless of how you identify, this is a place you should feel safe. Those responsible will be found and held accountable.”
Statement from the Office of the President of Bradley University
Lorch said he believed the school was in the process of cleaning the paint from the building and the sidewalk.
This story will be updated.