April 9, 2018

Thanks to the diligent and professional work of the American University Police Department, after 2:00 am this morning, a subject was observed defacing public property by affixing posters on public utilities and at Metro Bus shelters at the 3500 block of Nebraska Avenue, NW, adjacent to our campus. This individual has no affiliation with American University.

AUPD stopped and questioned the individual and immediately notified the Metropolitan Police Department and Metro Transit Police, who arrived at the scene and arrested the individual for defacing public property. The posters included an anti-gun control message and depicted an image of Adolf Hitler along with an image of one of the gun control advocates from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Particularly given that these posters were found during a week in which we remember those who were lost in the Holocaust, we understand how hurtful and deeply offensive this can be to our Jewish community and to all who mourn in solidarity with them. As I have stated previously, we reject hate, bigotry, intimidation in all its forms and firmly believe that they have no place in our society.

We are deeply grateful to AUPD for their dedication, professionalism and quick action.