We the undersigned believe that Eastern Illinois University's lack of action regarding the recent but not new incidents of hate speech being spread on and off-campus is not only insulting to minority students and community members but embarrassing for a university that consistently claims diversity and safety for its students.  Over the past few weeks messages of "White Power, get some!" along with bags of rocks were found on cars around Charleston. Other messages included were "Black Lies matter - F*ck Black History Month" Jesse Danley, Coles County State's Attorney stated that although the propaganda was definitely "anti-African American" it was not officially a threat of violence. We are of the opinion that distributing rocks with a message to "get some" white power cannot be interpreted as anything less than inciting racial violence. If that is not a threat of violence, then what is? The websites that are linked on the fliers direct you to the New Jersey European Heritage Association (NJEHA) website where more fliers can be printed and you can read about this ADL recognized white supremacist group's mission. The group was created in 2018 and uses the guise of "preserving white heritage" to spread anti-Semitic and racist messages. Their members frequently attend white supremacist rallies and at least 2 members were spotted at the Unite the Right rally wearing NJEHA stickers on helmets. 

When anti-Semitic messages were found on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, David Goldenberg, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Midwest office, said what’s happening on the U of I campus isn’t unique, and suggested that campuses adopt “zero tolerance” policies toward bias incidents.

On the EIU Police Departments' official webpage, it is stated that part of their mission is to "actively pursue proactive crime prevention processes to reduce one's vulnerability to crime." then what are their plans for doing so? Will it take a student getting attacked for them to start searching for who is doing this? Furthermore, some of the propaganda found has been found on private property and at least is evidence of trespassing. If the police department is claiming that no crime has been committed, then what can they do? We demand answers for how our students will be able to feel safe again on campus. If an investigation was conducted and a student was found to be responsible for spreading these messages, it would go against the EIU code of conduct #138.1 - Posting and Distribution of Materials. However, if the University continues to be willfully ignorant and ignore that people on their campus do not feel safe and that their lack of action is contributing to that, then conditions will get worse. Historically speaking, these things just don't go away. And we demand action.