American University officials are investigating how 10 Confederate flag posters with pieces of cotton attached were found hanging at various locations on its campus late Tuesday night, the same evening the school hosted an event at its new Antiracist Research and Policy Center.
“I ask you to join me in standing together and show that we will not be intimidated,” American University president Sylvia Burwell wrote in a statement. “AU will respond strongly to attempts designed to harm and create fear. Instead, we will recommit to creating a community that does not stand by. When one of us is attacked, all of us are attacked.”
Campus police on Wednesday released video footage of a man suspected to be behind the fliers, which displayed slogans like “Huzzah for Dixie” and “I Wish I Was in the Land of Cotton” on their front and “D.C. Counter Resistance” on the back.
NEW: Police release video that shows person they suspect posted Confederate flag fliers at @AmericanU https://t.co/HzHCjjdsnL pic.twitter.com/v8h7FXDPtt
— FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) September 27, 2017
Pastoral staff released a letter to the university’s community and faculty organized a town hall to support students following the school’s third racially charged incident in recent years.
Bananas hanging from nooses were discovered on campus in May, while two black students reported that they had bananas thrown at them in their dorms last September.
Ibram Kendi, AU’s Antiracist Research and Policy Center director, also wrote a note to students.
“I want you to know that you are a model of triumph — and when you triumph you become a threat to people who would rather you fail,” Kendi wrote. “The history of your successes is the history of racist terror. Do not let these terrorists slow you down, fear you down.”
10 confederate posters w/cotton were hung tonight @AmericanU. Here is my note to our students. pic.twitter.com/XTxW9kILln
— Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) September 27, 2017
