The Israeli and American flags at the Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) Jewish fraternity chapter at the University of Kansas were cut down by vandals for the second time in three months.
Both flags were discarded on the lawn of the fraternity house after being cut from the flagpole. The vandalism, which took place on Jan. 1, is similar to the incident at AEPi that took place on Nov. 5, during which vandals also tore down and discarded the Israeli and American flags.
KU campus and the City of Lawrence were notified, according to an Instagram post by AEPi on Jan. 2.
“On January 1, 2024, our fraternity faced a devastating recurrence of hate,” KU AEPi wrote on its Instagram page. “Our flags, symbols of pride and identity, were cut down for the second time in two months. The American flag and the Israeli flag were left discarded on the ground.”
This act of vandalism coincides with the rise of both global and on-campus antisemitism, including incidents at KU and the University of Missouri.
Shortly after the incident, Jewish organizations KU Chabad and KU Hillel condemned the crime and shared their support of AEPi and the KU Jewish community.
“Sadly, in recent months we are seeing an uptick of acts of intimidation and insults targeting Jewish students,” KU Chabad Director Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel told The Chronicle. “Our response to these acts of hate and darkness is to strengthen our resolve to keep Jewish pride and identity stronger than ever. When our enemies try to intimidate us, we stand taller and prouder. KU Chabad continues to support the students during these difficult times and is always at their side to ensure that we remain resilient and strong as a community.”
In an email statement from KU Hillel Interim Executive Director Bailey Nakelsky, she said that the organization is “saddened and disappointed” about the AEPi incident and “is supporting students throughout the reporting and investigation, and our JFS therapist is providing individual therapy appointments. We are committed to maintaining a strong and proud Jewish community on campus, and to ensuring the needs of Jewish students are met.”
Despite the recurrence of antisemitism affecting the fraternity, AEPi members continue to maintain optimism for the future and the overall actions of the KU community.
“As we welcome the new year, we continue to believe that these acts are not representative of the greater University of Kansas community,” the AEPi statement continued. “In recent months, the overwhelming support from our community has been extraordinarily positive. Support from family, friends, parents and the KU community as a whole is incredibly heartening.”
As of Jan. 8, the Instagram post has more than 1,300 likes. Comments on the fraternity’s Instagram post from current students, alumni and others express solidarity and support. Additionally, the University of Iowa chapter of AEPi commented, “Our chapter sends love and support. We’re standing with you guys,” and shared on an Instagram story that it “stand[s] with Kansas AEPi against the hate and targeting of the Jewish community.”
“AEPi will not be intimidated and will continue to show our pride in our Jewish heritage and support of Israel,” the fraternity’s post concluded. “Once again, together, we pray for brighter and more harmonious days ahead. Hate will not prevail.”