The Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University in New Jersey was vandalized and trashed, with glass shattered on the floor, televisions, printers, and artwork with Quranic verses damaged. The incident, which occurred on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, was described as a hate crime fueled by Islamophobia targeting the Muslim population at Rutgers. A video posted online by the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) showed the aftermath of the break-in, with a Palestinian flag being ripped from a pole. No one was in the building at the time, and Governor Phil Murphy expressed disgust at the incident.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin emphasized that acts of hate against the Muslim community will not be tolerated and that his office, along with various law enforcement agencies, is working to investigate the vandalism at the Islamic Center. The incident came shortly after anti-Israel agitators interrupted a town hall at the university, during which Jewish students had to be escorted out by police. The town hall was hosted by the Rutgers University Student Assembly and featured referendums on boycotting and divesting from anything connected to Israel.
The situation has been challenging for Jewish students at Rutgers, with one student expressing surprise at the protest that disrupted the town hall. The incident at the Islamic Center adds to the tension on campus, and authorities are actively investigating the vandalism. New Jersey officials are committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents, emphasizing that acts of hate have no place in the state. The incident marks a disturbing trend of intolerance and discrimination on campus, requiring a concerted effort to address and prevent such occurrences in the future. The Rutgers Police Department has not yet released a description of any suspects linked to the vandalism.
