An unidentified individual sprayed graffiti appearing to relate to the Israel-Hamas war on Georgetown University landmarks Sept. 20.
According to an email that Rosemary Kilkenny (LAW ’87) — vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer — and Jay Gruber — associate vice president of public safety — sent to community members, the individual sprayed graffiti on the John Carroll statue and a “Hoya Saxa” sign installed on Copley Lawn for homecoming weekend in the early hours of Sept. 20.
The Instagram account @georgetownintifada, which is not affiliated with Georgetown or any student or student organization, posted a video in which the vandal appears to have been filmed, showing an individual spraying “200K dead” in red paint on the Hoya Saxa sign on Copley Lawn and an upside-down red triangle, a pro-Palestinian symbol, on the John Carroll statue. The account posted the video with @gmuintifada, a similar account at George Mason University, at approximately 10 a.m. Sept. 20.
The individual, whom the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) identified through security footage as a woman wearing a black brimmed baseball hat, dark glasses and loose-fitting black clothing, entered campus at 5:15 a.m., according to the email.
“Vandalism is a crime, and we condemn these acts,” Kilkenny and Gruber wrote in the email. “Any form of vandalism violates University policy, goes against our values, and will be investigated as a crime.”
“All of us play a role in fostering a community that is inclusive, welcoming, and safe,” Kilkenny and Gruber added. “While we encourage respectful dialogue and civility, we will not tolerate vandalism, harassment or any other acts that violate university policies.”
By 12:30 p.m. Sept. 20, Georgetown facilities and grounds workers had removed the red paint on the John Carroll statue and repainted the Hoya Saxa sign.
A university spokesperson said GUPD increased patrols on campus in response to the incident, also alluding to vandalism incidents which occurred in Dahlgren Chapel of the Sacred Heart and to a statue of the Virgin Mary near the Heyden Observatory Aug. 29.
“In response to the incident last week, the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) has increased patrols at key locations and sacred spaces on campus,” the spokesperson wrote to The Hoya. “GUPD continues to investigate the incident and is coordinating with local law enforcement partners.”
The @georgetownintifada account wrote in the caption of the video that, as Georgetown hosts graduates for homecoming, it uses the donations of many wealthy graduates to invest in Amazon; Alphabet, a technology company; and other “undisclosed contributors” to the “Zionist occupation.”
“Ahead of georgetown university’s ‘homecoming’ festivities, autonomous actors sent a message: there is no pride in an institution that funds genocide,” the account wrote.
“As georgetown boasts its slogan ‘hoya saxa’ and kicks off Homecoming Weekend with ‘Traditions Day,’ we remember georgetown’s true tradition: genocide,” the account added. “We refuse to let georgetown celebrate while the blood of over 200,000 Palestinians is on their hands. Cease donations to georgetown. Demand divestment now.”
In a later Instagram post, published alongside a photograph of the vandalized Hoya Saxa sign, the account wrote that students will continue to organize against the university until Georgetown divests from these companies.
“georgetown, your hands are painted red,” the account wrote. “The student intifada will not rest until you divest and end all ties with the genocidal zionist entity.”