Graffiti saying “Trump Plantation” has defaced the quad of historically black Howard University in Washington DC following the institution’s president meeting with controversial U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
The vandalism occurred late Monday night, according to according to DCist. The blue graffiti read “Welcome to the Trump Plantation. Overseer: Wayne A.I. Frederick,” as in the University’s President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick.
Frederick has come under fire in the days since DeVos chose Howard for her first official campus visit as secretary. Frederick had earlier said in a statement: “Howard University is pleased that Betsy DeVos, the new Secretary of Education, chose to visit our institution.”
“We have a longstanding, successful relationship with the Department of Education, and I look forward to advancing this relationship under the Secretary’s leadership,” the statement added.
A student group called “HUResist” later met with President Frederick and issued a set of demands, including that the University stop taking federal funding and bar President Donald Trump from its premises. HUResist has denied responsibility for the graffiti.
Many students at Howard responded negatively to the graffiti, describing it as “vandalism” and suggesting it “went a little bit too far.”
“I see the students’ need to protest, but this is just clear vandalism,” said sophomore Francisco Joseph. “I’m never about slandering people—this went a little bit too far.”
The sophomore added that the people responsible for the graffiti should have Tweeted their opposition instead, as it would have received the same degree of attention. He also said that Devos’ visit had “very mixed response”: some called her unqualified for the job, but others stressed the need to “secure funding”.
The University has received more than $200 million in federal funding in 2016 alone.
Another student, Taylor Washington, who also saw other anti-Frederick graffiti near University dorms, claims the University president is “in a tough situation,” adding that “Some students feel strongly that Frederick should take a stance against Trump, but I feel as if they’re taking the wrong route.”
She added that “overseer” – as the graffiti reads – is an insult to the African American community. “I just feel like it’s a little dramatic,” she said.