On Tuesday, February 14th, Social media sites were flooded with a number of hateful posters targeted towards immigrants, minorities, and Muslims. The posters were posted up at the University of Texas, the University of Central Florida and Rutgers University in New Jersey.
The posters were placed in multiple locations on and outside of the universities by a white supremacist group which has titled itself 'American Vanguard'. The posters included messages reading, "A Muslim Free America", " White Guilt - Free yourself from Cultural Marxism" and a message encouraging people to report and aid in the expulsion of illegal immigrants. One of the posters was stuck outside of Paul Robeson Cultural Center which is used as a prayer room in Rutgers University.
Hey UT - someone has been putting these flyers around campus so be on the lookout and take them down if you see them pic.twitter.com/n9GwA7OFuX
— brady (@bradylee_) February 13, 2017
I reported this to the Dean of students at 8.30am today @kevinhelgren pic.twitter.com/PNA9YZvWPE
— Kristie (@thehistoriann) February 13, 2017
This same anti-Muslim hate group has hung up posters at my alma mater, @UCF. pic.twitter.com/dVGDtVYjwK
— azmiaAKAmia (@azmiaAKAmia) February 14, 2017
J.B Bird Director of Media Relations for The University of Texas released a statement which supported the right for the group to freely express themselves but stated for people to refrain from vandalizing the building, "The signs, some of which were affixed with adhesive, are in the process of being removed. The university vigorously supports free speech, but posting signs of any nature on the outside of university buildings is not allowed under campus rules. Additionally, as per policy, only students and student organizations are allowed to post signage in approved spaces on campus."
A statement made by email from Rutgers University condemned the posters, "The contents of the flyer, which was also posted elsewhere nationwide, violate the values and ideals for which Rutgers stands. We strongly condemn this kind of speech and are appalled that our Muslim community was targeted in this way."
CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper in press release condemned the posters as inciting hatred, “It is clear that these signs, which were used to vandalize a house of worship, are part of a nationwide campaign by racists and Islamophobes to intimidate the American Muslim community, Americans of all faiths must join together in repudiating the call to violence implicit in this hate campaign.”