Metropolitan Police Department (DC Police / MPD)

Hate Symbol Found on Georgetown Campus; 5th Case This Month

The cases seem to be related, police say

Police at Georgetown University say a hateful symbol was drawn on a trash can Tuesday, marking the fifth time offensive graffiti has been found on the campus this month.

The cases appear to be related, Georgetown police said.

Officials did not say which symbol was drawn, but throughout September, swastikas and other anti-Semitic or misogynistic messages have been found etched around the campus.

The vandal struck most recently in the Walsh building, which houses arts classes, studios and offices.

Other graffiti was drawn in the elevators and restrooms of dorms.

Swastikas were found in an elevator of the Village C West dorm on Sept. 5. One day later, an elevator in the LXR dorm was found vandalized, according to crime logs.

As the Jewish community celebrated Rosh Hashanah on Sept. 20 and Sept. 21, more swastikas were found alongside "threatening and derogatory" messages aimed at Jewish people and women in a LXR dorm restroom, Georgetown’s president, John J. DeGioia, said.

After those incidents, some Georgetown students used chalk to write counter-grafitti with messages including, "We will not be intimidated" and "Fight hate with love." 

Georgetown police say they are working with D.C. police to find the vandal, and say he or she will face not only disciplinary action through the school, but also criminal charges.

Police say they are confident they will find the vandal and will be increasing patrols in residential areas.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Georgetown police at (202) 687 - 4343 or police@georgetown.edu.

This spree of graffiti is not the first time hate symbols have been found on Georgetown’s campus. Graffiti disparaging Jewish people was found on campus in May.

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