A contractor was hired to erase all of the vandalism left behind by pro-Palestinian protesters on the walls of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. The messages, including a Palestinian flag and anti-Semitic slogans, were deemed “threatening, intimidating and anti-Semitic” by the college president, Eric Kaler.
On Tuesday morning, the contractor arrived to complete the job. However, a group of students showed up to halt the work and even brought someone to record their “heroic” stand. The video shows the students standing in front of the contractor, who is wearing a face shield, as he continues to spray paint over their bodies.
One of the students, Ameer Alkayali, an 18-year-old Palestinian-American who attends the University of Cincinnati, stated that he intends to sue the college administrators and the public safety department over the incident. He claims that the paint did not come off his skin for hours and was still under his nails later that day.
In response to the incident, President Kaler posted a statement on the college website denouncing the actions of the contractors. He stated that no students should ever be treated in such a manner and that it is not in line with the college’s values of providing a safe and welcoming environment for all. He also mentioned that an investigation will be conducted to determine why campus police did not intervene.
Despite the protestor’s demands for the college to divest from companies linked to Israel, President Kaler made it clear that the university will not comply. He stated that the college values its relationship with Israel and will not withdraw any assets.
Interestingly, on Tuesday night, the Spirit Wall was painted again, but this time with a pro-Israel message that read, “They call for intifada so we call them terrorists.” President Kaler had urged the protestors to disperse and it seems that his words were heeded.
It’s simple- A contractor was hired to cover up vandalism left behind by pro-Palestinian protesters at Case Western Reserve University. When students tried to stop the work, the contractor continued to spray paint over them, leading to a confrontation.
@FrantzRantz – Bob: you need to get Case Western spray paint guy on your show. He is NEO's new hero. And if they fire him or charge him with assault, we need to raise a buttload of money for him.
— Gary Gnu (@GaryGnuGoodGnew) May 8, 2024
The college president denounced the incident and stated that the college will not comply with the protesters’ demands for divestment from Israel. The spirit wall was repainted with a pro-Israel message, indicating that the protestors’ voices were not heard. This incident serves as a reminder that hate and violence will not be tolerated by any institution or individual.