Pro-Trump, Anti-Muslim Chalk Messages Appear on Michigan Campus

1 minute read

University of Michigan officials condemned anti-Muslim chalk messages Friday after they appeared on campus alongside messages in support of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, according to reports.

“Stop Islam,” “Build the Wall,” “Stop the Rape of Europe” and “Trump 2016” were among the messages written on in a central university plaza Wednesday, according to a Detroit Free Press report. School officials condemned the messages but declined to remove them citing freedom of speech.

“Attacks directed toward any individual or group within our community, based on a belief or characteristic, are inconsistent with the university’s values of respect, civility and equality, “ said University of Michigan president Mark Schlissel, according to The Michigan Daily student newspaper . “These are core values and guiding principles that will help us as we strive to live up to our highest ideals.”

Concerned students ended up washing the messages off the plaza themselves.

More Must-Reads From TIME

Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com