LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Gulf Coast University Police Department (UPD) has identified the person responsible for posting anti-Semitic signs on several campus buildings.
According to a statement from FGCU, UPD determined that the signs were placed during the daytime on Saturday.
“When I first saw it, I was really shocked this would be on campus,” said Madison Tezak, an FGCU student.
FGCU says the person is not affiliated with the school and is not a current or former student or employee.
“What goes through a person’s mind to step onto a college campus to even write those things,” said Angelina Montesano, an FGCU student.
One of the signs read “Hitler is right” with an image of Hitler — another read “smash white guilt," both had a web address.
“If you actually see on their website, they have it posted that they go to a whole bunch of different cities, including Canada and overseas — that they’re trying to spread this everywhere, which is just horrible,” said Tezak.
On Thursday, FGCU police announced they identified the person after receiving a tip and reviewing their license plate recognition system, determining the person had been on-campus during the timeframe the signs were placed.
“I wasn’t exactly if they would or how they would do it, but when I found out that they did, I was relieved it wasn’t an actual student that goes here,” said Tezak.
The person, not named by police, was given a trespass warning.
“Our legal recourse is rather limited, but we can and should all speak out to reject and condemn these hateful communications and make those who choose to practice it know they are not welcome at FGCU,” said FGCU president, Michael V. Martin.
Students agreeing there’s no room for this type of hate on campus or anywhere else.
“I think the president’s message was really strong, and I think it really supported a lot of his and our values as students as well,” said Tezak.
FGCU police say the same fliers have been put up on other campuses, including the University of Central Florida.
