Pro-Palestinian University Vandals Complain About Consequences

Last November there was a major incident of vandalism at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

On Nov. 8 at 4:49 a.m., the Case Western Reserve University Division of Public Safety was notified of alleged vandalism on buildings across campus. By the start of classes that day, students were reporting cases of vandalism on the Case Quad, by the main building of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences and by the main entrance of George Gund Hall, the main building for the CWRU School of Law.

Found around campus were instances of red paint being applied to statues such as “Doc Oc” and “The Homeless,” as well as splatters of red and white paint along the Binary Walkway. On the side of Adelbert Hall and Gund Hall, red hand prints and posters were applied. The campus crime log also lists two other locations: the Weatherhead School of Management’s Peter B. Lewis Building and George S. Dively Buildings. The posters had messages such as “Killer Kaler Out” and “CWRU Kills Children for Blood Money.” Written words were also found along the wall of the outside courtyard to the School of Law. On the law school, there was a list of countries—“Sudan, Congo, Haiti, Lebanon!”—that start with “Palentine,” a supposed misspelling of Palestine. On the ground were the words “We are complicit in genocide.” Similarly, on the side of Millis Hall, the graffitied walls read, “Free Gaza” and “Long live the Intifada.”

It was immediately clear that the cost to clean up all this red paint would be significant.

Another student bystander commented on the monetary costs of cleaning up the vandalism and with policing last year’s encampment. “My major issue is that a lot of money has been spent to deal with the protests. I think the money is not where I want [my tuition] to go. And what they’ve done is overkill. I’m not a fan,” the student bystander said.

CWRU President Eric Kaler vowed their would be charges brought against anyone responsible for the vandalism. And for once it actually happened. The school released a statement on Nov. 11, 2024.

Earlier today, multiple individuals were arrested on felony charges in connection with the vandalism of buildings, structures and artwork across our campus overnight on Nov. 8. These individuals have been transferred to the Cuyahoga County Jail, where they are afforded full legal rights, including access to counsel. As this is now a criminal investigation, the university is unable to provide further comment…

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s office confirms four people — two men and two women all between the ages of 19 and 22 — were taken into custody on fourth-degree felony charges of vandalism.

Someone must have talked because by February of this year 11 individuals were indicted for the vandalism.

Eleven pro-Palestine protesters were charged with felonies for allegedly trespassing at Case Western Reserve University last November and painting portions of campus blood-red, an indictment filed Wednesday read.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley charged these people—six of them Case students—with crimes that led to an estimated $400,000 in damages…

If convicted, the 11 protesters could face anywhere from six months to multiple years in prison, depending on whether the case is closed via a plea deal or if it goes to trial. A felony record also means a lifetime of difficulty finding work and housing.

But of course none of those dire consequences happened. On the contrary, they made a plea deal which meant they would have no criminal record at all so long as they paid for the cost of the cleanup.

The 11 Case Western Reserve University students and activists indicted for pro-Palestinian vandalism on campus last year have paid more than $350,000 in restitution to the university to clear their names.

The payments are part of a legal agreement with the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office under the pre-trial diversion program. If all stipulations are met, the defendants’ criminal records will be cleared…

Three of the students still face expulsion via university conduct proceedings running parallel to the legal case…

Mullin-Vanneste said he was offered his diploma in exchange for “full cooperation,” meaning identifying the people involved in the incident.

“When I rejected this, they shut down negotiations completely. It doesn’t seem to just be about policy or accountability. This is about making an example of us to stifle any dissent, and about silencing the movement for Palestine.”

These babies are getting off easy and still whine that they are being punished too harshly. They really expect to walk away from this with zero consequences so long as they pay back the cost of the cleanup. But why should the school continue to allow students who broke the law and defaced the campus to study there?

At least one of them is in trouble at another school after Case Western filed a complaint about him. Again, he acts like this is shocking behavior and not bare minimum consequences for his behavior.

I sincerely hope they all get expelled. Protest, rallies, marches, speeches—all of these things are constitutionally protected in this country. These people chose to escalate to illegal acts. They have no one to blame but themselves. 

Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.

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