DENVER (KDVR) — A student was arrested for spray painting political messages on campus on Friday night, according to an email from University of Denver Chancellor Jeremy Haefner.
The messages were reported to have expressed “political views, including pro-Palestine and anti-Trump rhetoric” and were found in several locations, but the locations were not named. The messages were allegedly sprayed days before an attack on a pro-Israel group in Boulder by a man who yelled, “Free Palestine,” and is now being called a terror attack by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“The act of defacing our shared spaces is unacceptable and contrary to our community standards,” Haefner wrote to the DU campus in his email. “Vandalism is not a form of free expression. It is not protected speech. It is a violation of our shared values and disrespectful to the living and learning environment we share as a community.”
Haefner added that DU “supports the right to express diverse perspectives—but that must happen through lawful means.”
According to a probable cause statement obtained by FOX31, the student, identified as 23-year-old Marshall Ray, spray painted “Free Gaza and “Free Palestine” on campus property. The statement said that Ray was spray painting a traffic sign when contacted and was painting “Gaza” at that point. Officers also said a can of spray paint and two paint markers were in his pocket.
Ray is being held for investigation of criminal mischief and disturbing the peace. The final determination of charges will be made by the Denver District Attorney’s Office.
Haefner said that facilities crews were “working diligently” Monday morning to clean up the graffiti, and said the administration is committed to ensuring campus community members feel safe, respected and heard.
The chancellor said that the DU student was arrested by the Denver Police Department. The investigation is ongoing and evidence is being reviewed, Haefner wrote, because there could be others involved.
Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation is asked to contact Campus Safety at 303-871-2334. DU said the incident has also been reported to Equal Opportunity and Title IX (EOIX) for review.
