(Photo by L. Shanley)
Georgetown University officials say that a swastika was found painted in a bathroom on Wednesday—as the college held a ceremony for the Jewish New Year celebration Rosh Hashanah. It is the third time that the Nazi symbol was found on campus since the school year began.
President John DeGioia released a statement to the college community saying that campus police responded to a report of a swastika found painted inside of a women’s restroom stall in the LXR residence hall—the same dorm where two painted swastikas were found in an elevator earlier this month. DeGoia said the symbol was accompanied by “threatening and derogatory language advocating for violence against women.”
“There is never a time or place for these acts, and this incident is even more disturbing during Rosh Hashanah,” DeGioia. “We stand in solidarity with our Jewish community and strongly condemn this act of hate, anti-Semitism, and sexism.”
DeGioia said on Wednesday that the university has increased police presence around campus as the cases are being investigated by college police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
On September 5, a swastika was found carved in an elevator in the Village C West residence, and the following night, two painted swastikas were found in an elevator in the LXR Hall dorm.
There were eight bias-related incidents reported to Georgetown University Police during the last school year, according to campus newspaper The Hoya. Among them, anti-Semitic graffiti was found near a campus Jewish center in May, an Asian student was spat on, and a student wearing a hijab was attacked off campus in November. In the wake of Charlottesville last month, someone spray painted an anti-Semitic slur on a building in the Burleith neighborhood a few blocks off campus.
In total, bias-crimes rose 62 percent across the city last last year, and crimes specific to religion more than tripled. Two-thirds of those were directed at the Jewish community.
DeGioia encouraged students in the statement on Wednesday to get involved in programs around inclusivity and notify officials about other incidents that they believe are hate-bias.
People with information about any of the recent incidents can call (202) 687-4343 or emailpolice@georgetown.edu.
