The Cincinnati Beacon - Racism and Hate on campus at UC

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Racism and Hate on campus at UC

A press release from the UC ISO.

At the University of Cincinnati yesterday overt messages of racism and hate were discovered in the Steger Student Life Center (SSLC). These messages made clear that racism and hate are alive and well at UC. Anti-racist and anti-death penalty protest signs in SSLC (the building which houses student organizations on campus) belonging to the International Socialist Organization (ISO), a registered student group at UC, were filled with hate speech. The signs were defaced with racist slogans like “White Power”, “Bring Back Hitler”, “Yes We Klan”, as well as having several swastikas drawn on them. Several posters had pictures of African Americans being lynched with the words “Die Pookie Die” scrawled across it. This was not a case of vandalism, these were not scribbled words, they were detailed drawings and messages of bigotry that took time to construct.

In addition to writing racist slogans and images, the racists stole books, magazines, and other supplies from the ISO. “This wasn’t random” said Stacey Downing Director of Student Activities and Leadership Development, “They made a conscious effort to spread a hateful message”.

Unfortunately, it needs to be said that in a political climate that scapegoats immigrants for “stealing American jobs” and deems every Muslim or Arab as a ‘terrorist” this type of hate is to be expected. With both political parties clamoring for the best techniques of scapegoating people of color, it’s no surprise that there has been a rise in the amount of far-right extremist groups in the United States. Why would someone do this you ask? This was a specific, targeted attempt to silence voices that oppose racism and actively organize against it. No matter who did this and what their motivation was, this is absolutely not a joke and cannot be taken lightly.

For people in Cincinnati, this is nothing new. Cincinnati is still one of the most segregated cities in the United States and has recently seen a Police sweep this past summer that arrested many innocent young black youth in Over-The-Rhine. UC is also no stranger to racist incidents either. It was just last year that a series of white power posters were put up around campus stating “Don’t have sex with blacks, avoid AIDS!” It took the UC administration nearly a week and a half to respond to the posters only after black student groups demanded a meeting. When the Clifton Mosque was bombed in December of 2005, the same UC administration failed to even appear at a community vigil or make a public statement condemning the racist attack.

The racism and the bigots that espouse hateful beliefs need to be confronted wherever and whenever they appear.

International Socialist Organization
http://www.internationalsocialist.org

Publisher of Socialist Worker weekly newspaper
http://www.socialistworker.org

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Anona Burton says:
08 Nov 2006 at 05:49 pm | #

Obviously not worth commenting about or something everybody has known for a long time? The problem doesn’t go away. Even after the frat houses got torn down ...

says:
09 Nov 2006 at 07:20 am | #

I think the article is confusing. It implies or says that the ISO presented the racist signs.

Again, how about some names or photos of those that are carrying the signs?

nati red says:
09 Nov 2006 at 09:54 am | #

Our signs and our space at UC was vandalized by racists, end of story. The signs were used to protest Nazis back in September at a demonstration in Columbus OH.

You can read more about the Columbus protest here:
http://www.socialistworker.org/2006-2/603/603_15_OhioNazis.shtml

I have photos of the protest with said persons holding signs, however, the photos have yet to be scanned in(analog camera?)

There is plans in the works to have an organizing meeting on campus against racism. If you’d like to be apart that, email .

Cheers to the Beacon for posting this!

nati red says:
09 Nov 2006 at 09:59 am | #

I just posted something so sorry if this comes out twice.

Our signs and our space at UC were vandalized by racists, end of story. The signs were used to protest Nazis in Columbus back in September. You can read moe about that here:
http://www.socialistworker.org/2006-2/603/603_15_OhioNazis.shtml

We have photos but they have yet to be scanned in.

Kudos to the Beacon for posting this!

says:
09 Nov 2006 at 11:30 am | #

The only militant political graffiti I’ve ever seen around UC are a good number of socialist slogans etched or charcoaled into the sidewalks. Some have remained for years.

says:
09 Nov 2006 at 12:54 pm | #

This sounds suspiciously like the incident at Miami University a few years back. The Black Student Union was supposedly “vandalized” with a bunch of racist slogans. The BSU went nuts, held marches and demonstrations, petitioned the administration, etc. At the end of the ruckus it was discovered that the heads of the BSU had planted everything to “draw attention” to the alleged racism of the administration. The BSU heads were promptly expelled for using hate speech.

I wouldn’t put it past any student group to try a similar tactic. Undergrads in particular tend to get carried away in the drama of persecution. There are other, more useful ways of combatting and highlighting racism than making up a hate crime to prove a point.

Chuck says:
09 Nov 2006 at 12:57 pm | #

Trey, what socialist slogans and where?

Monica says:
09 Nov 2006 at 12:59 pm | #

How has the administration responded? Does anyone know?

says:
09 Nov 2006 at 06:43 pm | #

Chuck, I can’t exactly recall now. They might actually be gone now since they have been putting in new sidewalks around the perimeter. But I think there was one with the word “lies” in the place of the stars in the US flag, and I think there was a few others with the typical undergrad radical slogans of “corporations are the devil” or “stop the corporate state”, etc. But I know they were there for some time , probably years. I thought the admin should have tried to remove them. I, and I am sure some other people, found them stupid and offensive.

says:
09 Nov 2006 at 08:22 pm | #

Why is the International Socialists organization protesting Nazis in the first place? Is there something in your bylaws that calls for special attention to be given to Nazis? I can understand protesting Nazis by the general public, but it seems that the socialists are carrying it the extra mile.

Is it that the International Socialists believe that they will make points and garner acceptace by the general public if they attack a mutual politically-incorrect enemy?

I feel that the socialist agenda has enough merit that it doesn’t need to gain prestige on the backs of Nazis.

Chuck says:
09 Nov 2006 at 08:33 pm | #

Trey, around the perimeter is pretty vague. Where exactly were these things you “think” were there. I’d like to look for them, because I really am skeptical. To be perfectly honest I think you’re full of it. I haven’t seen them and I’ve been on campus quite a bit.

Why would you be offended by “stop the corporate state”, are you a part of it? Or “corporations are the devil”, I assume you’re not a corporation or the devil. Is that militant? And charcoal on the side walk isn’t vandalism is it?

Are you really comparing charcoal slogans like that to defacing posters and banners against racism with �White Power�, �Bring Back Hitler�, and �Yes We Klan�?

If you are then I think you are missing something.

HMM, you’re really on to something I think. I mean, just because you don’t have any evidence what so ever doesn’t mean that this isn’t a socialist conspiracy to take over the world by fighting racism. Or maybe you’re just some fringe whack job conspiracy theorist.

says:
11 Nov 2006 at 11:28 am | #

OK Chuck, since you you seem to be so interested in these slogans, I’ll supply a detailed description of each one I saw and the exact longitude-latitude of their locations so you can begin your in-depth investigation. Dude, chill out. I like saw them when I was jogging around the perimeter of UC. Like I said, some of them may be gone now because they recently replaced sidewalks along some of this path. But I think the one with the word “lies” in the US flag is just north of the University-Jefferson ST. entrance. One of the anti-corporate slogans I think is near there also.

Why aren’t you investigating the claims in the original post with such vigor? They provided no more evidence for their experience than I did.

I’ll grant you that some political slogans are more hurtful than others but I think all vandalizing of public property or someone else’s personal property is wrong.

Chuck says:
11 Nov 2006 at 04:44 pm | #

Trey, again I’m not sure that charcoal on a side walk is vandalizing, it’s not paint and it washes off. Of course racist slogans are more hurtful than political slogans against the lies that got us into wars and the greedy corporate war profiteers that benifit from them.

The ISO has the things that have been vandalized, It makes no sense that they would do it themselves. There’s enough racism out there that nobody needs to invent anymore. People making these allegations wouldn’t make them if it was the student Republicans or Democrats, but it’s seems they think it’s ok or appropriate to make them against a small group that’s fighhting for social justice. Democrats and Republicans lie every day and I can’t think of one lie I’ve heard from the ISO.

You are implying that the ISO made some “offensive” vandalism themselves and faked this. That’s BS and I’m simply asking you some more details about your claims. It’s easy to follow up on the ISO’s claims, but your anonymous blogger with wild, yet vague allegations.

says:
12 Nov 2006 at 01:47 pm | #

Chuck, who gives a fuck? If somebody vandalized some private property, go to the police and have them investigate. Its not like prosecuter’s go off easy if they catch someone. Those kids in KY who got caught burning crosses in front of a black family’s
house got a serious sentence. Its just that its hard to catch people who vandalize.
All I did was say what vandalism I saw at UC. End of story. You’re right: I’m just an anonymous blogger. But so is the original poster. For the record, I never questioned their veracity. You questioned mine. And I just pointed out that you questioned mine and didn’t question theirs. That doesn’t seem like a good way to decide whats true or not. It probably points out a major problem of open blogging: since everyone is basically anonymous to one another, its hard to determine questions of fact.
And finally, is there any way you guys can cut back on the rhetoric? OK, a crime was committed. Somebody vandalized property and said some really mean things. The vast majority of us unenlightened sheep of the consumer society agree with you that these people should be caught & prosecuted. But, why do you need to go through a whole list of political grievences ("scapegoating immigrants,silencing voices, arresting young black men)and unabashed self-aggrandisement (” small group fighting for social justice, never lying, opposing racism")to report a crime?

Chuck says:
12 Nov 2006 at 03:47 pm | #

Trey, we give a fuck! These attitudes and actions lead to gas chambers, wars and hate crimes.

“I, and I am sure some other people, found them stupid and offensive.”

You compared “stop the corporate state” and “corporations are the devil” to “White Power”, “Bring Back Hitler”, and “Yes We Klan”. There’s a big differnce.

“The only militant political graffiti I’ve ever seen around UC are a good number of socialist slogans etched or charcoaled into the sidewalks.”

What you said makes it sound like the socialists have put militant political graffiti around UC. I don’t think so. I simply asked you to tell me what and where . I don’t know why you called what was written socialist slogans. Most people oppose the war and the lying and war profiteering that got us into it.

The ISO listed “scapegoating immigrants,silencing voices, arresting young black men” and they are correct that these attitudes are at the root of all these problems. These are racist problems that they are fighting and the whole list is much longer. I said I’ve never heard them tell a lie and the Democrats and Republicans do it every day, that’s true.

Hmm, questioned their veracity and your comments jumped on the band wagon. They listed a spokesperson and are easy to find if you’d like to see the proof. If you aren’t more outraged by racist vandalism than you are about anti-war slogans, then that doesn’t speak well of your character, that’s all.

says:
12 Nov 2006 at 07:08 pm | #

OK, I went and checked for the slogans. The one with the word “lies” in the US flag can still be barely made out. Its just to the north of the Jefferson-University entrance on the perimeter sidewalk of the UC square. It is very faded but still can be read if you look closely. As I said above, they recently changed sidewalks around the perimeter of UC (a popular jogging path which is how I saw them) so the other slogans are gone.
I know its not cool to say you have any patriotic feelings but it is very offensive to many people to call the US a nation of lies. I’m sorry if I used political shorthand to call the vandals socialists but its usually the far left who write anti-corporation slogans and draw anti-patriotic symbols. I know you would never dream of making a leap like that. Someone vandalizes some stuff with Nazi-type slogans (but who knows, maybe it was done by a group of Chinese grandmothers, you never know)and you’re ready to blame every non-socialist policy that was implemented for the past 50 years.

Chuck says:
12 Nov 2006 at 08:48 pm | #

"I know its not cool to say you have any patriotic feelings but it is very offensive to many people to call the US a nation of lies.”

“White Power”, “Bring Back Hitler”, and “Yes We Klan” are offensive.

The US is a nation of lies and the government is filled with liars, perverts and theifs, fortunatly a lot of the bums got thrown out. They lied us into an illegal and immoral war that has made us less safe. They say we’re “land of the free”, but we’ve got over 2.2 million people in jail because it’s a profitable big business.

We have an illegitimate President that hasn’t won an election since he became Governor and we’re supposed to believe we’re bring “Democracy” to Iraq at the barrel of a gun. They say it’s the land of opportunity, but the gap between rich and poor is widening. More Americans fall behind every year and we have more adult and child poverty than any industrialized nation.

We are offended that our tax dollars are going to bomb people and make us hated throughout the world. We are offended that we have 46 million Americans without health insurance. We are offended that they keep shifting the tax burden from the rich to the poor at the expense of generations to come. We’re offended that they shred our constitution in the name of protecting us from enemies they created. We’re offended that at the murder of 650,000 Iraqi civilians in the name of peace.

Yes, it’s not cool to say you’re patriotic and not acknowledge what’s wrong with this country and work to make it right.

“Someone vandalizes some stuff with Nazi-type slogans (but who knows, maybe it was done by a group of Chinese grandmothers, you never know)”

You’ve got to be joking!

“you’re ready to blame every non-socialist policy that was implemented for the past 50 years.”

Name some good ones and I’ll tell you if I agree.

says:
13 Nov 2006 at 01:42 pm | #

The US is a nation of lies and the government is filled with liars, perverts and theifs

If you hate it so much, leave. Grow up, you big cry baby.

Chuck says:
13 Nov 2006 at 08:44 pm | #

Trey, I pay taxes so I have a right to bitch. It’s American to bitch about corruption and speak out about failed government policies. If you don’t like that, you leave. I’m a grown up and If you don’t know that our government is full of liars, then you’re dumber than I thought.

You’re the one crying about chalk on the sidewalks that says “stop the corporate state” and “corporations are the devil”. You’re crying about that and trying to marginalize a group that’s fighting for social justice and speaking out about the racist vandalism of their property. You should grow up and get a clue.

Phillip J. Fry says:
16 Nov 2006 at 03:50 pm | #

I hear there are security cameras all over SLC. Both inside and outside. I think this will go away as soon as the perpetrators are positively indentified…

nati red says:
16 Nov 2006 at 05:42 pm | #

This came from another student on campus:

I read an article in the “News Record” recently. It pertained to an
incident that took place on the campus of the University of
Cincinnati. Flyers hung promoting justice by a U.C. organization were
defaced with messages of hatred and bigotry. Swastikas and pictures of
blacks who had been lynched were only a few of the images. The same
day I read the article, I returned to my friend’s car that was parked
on Clifton Avenue (outside of D.A.A.P.) to find a hate filled letter
recruiting members to the National Alliance, a white supremacist
organization.

In response:
Students Say No to Racism at UC!

Due to several racist incidents on campus and in the community, students are organizing to do something about it. Join us!

Rally against Racism:
Saturday Nov. 18
at Mcmicken Commons at 6:30.
Students will be gathering to distribute information about the incidents in questions before the UC football game. Wear black to show solidarity!

March against Racism
Monday Nov. 20
at McMicken Commons
Gather at 12 noon
Students will be marching on campus to demand a condemnation of the racist events from the administration

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Wednesday, November 08, 2006