The Israeli flag at Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) Jewish fraternity at the University of Kansas was cut down and torn to shreds by vandals on Sunday night.
The Lawrence Kansas Police Department is currently involved and investigating.
The fraternity members discovered that both their Israeli and American flags were cut down at 10:20 p.m. on Nov. 5. The American flag was discarded on the lawn, and the Israeli flag was found shredded about a block away.
A statement from AEPi was shared on social media, amassing more than 2,500 “likes” by Tuesday morning.
“This malicious act of vandalism has been promptly reported to local law enforcement, and they are taking all necessary measures to address this despicable crime,” the statement read. “In recent weeks, campuses across the United States have witnessed a distressing surge in acts of intimidation and insult targeting Jewish students. However, it is both shocking and profoundly disheartening to see such an incident occur right here at the University of Kansas and on our very own property.”
The Lawrence Kansas Police Department (LKPD) posted on Facebook that it “is concerned enough about the nature of the crime to forward the report from the Patrol Unit to our Investigations Divisions. A detective visited the house today, and we’re working to secure additional evidence. We will let the community know more as we learn more.”
In a statement from the university on Tuesday, KU Chancellor Douglas Girod and Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Bichelmeyer acknowledged the incident as “disturbing,” saying that the rise in antisemitism “make[s] it reasonable to conjecture that this was an act intended to intimidate members of our Jewish community.” They encouraged people to report vandalism, threatening behavior and intimidation to law enforcement or to KU’s Office of Civil Rights and Title IX.
Jewish organizations KU Chabad and KU Hillel promptly issued responses condemning the crime and standing in support of AEPi and the KU Jewish community.
“We have been in close contact with the men of AEPi since this incident last night,” KU Chabad posted on Facebook on Monday, “and as always, Chabad is here 24/7 and happy to be of support any time. Am Yisraeli Chai!”
In an email from KU Hillel Interim Executive Director Bailey London Nakelsky, she said, “Once again, we are heartbroken to have to share a statement from the brothers of KU AEPi about an antisemitic incident at their house. This targeted act of hate should not and will not be tolerated. We deeply appreciate how seriously the University and police are taking this situation as they investigate the incident.” Information about KU Hillel’s partnership with Jewish Family Services to provide student therapy was also included in the email.
This instance of vandalism and the uneasiness of the KU Jewish community is happening during an unprecedented increase of student and campus antisemitism worldwide. After the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel and the ongoing Israel-Hamas War, antisemitic attacks, messages and demonstrations (including some explicitly pro-Hamas ones) have occurred at many campuses across America.
Despite the rise in global antisemitism and the crime that occurred at their house, AEPi maintains optimism in the spirit of the KU community.
“We firmly believe that the actions of a few do not represent the broader spirit of our University of Kansas community,” the AEPi statement read. “We are united by a common bond of love, support, and mutual respect for one another, and we remain resolute in upholding our proud Jewish identity as a resilient fraternity on this campus.”
