White supremacist group graffitis campus the morning of Super Tuesday
After hitting the Orange County Democratic Party headquarters with white supremacist propaganda Feb. 29, Patriot Front targeted Chapman’s campus with their stickers for the third time this academic year
Photo by Mia Fortunato
Update: March 3, 3:45 p.m.
Stickers belonging to the white supremacist group Patriot Front were found on campus for the third time this academic year March 3, the morning of Super Tuesday. Multiple stickers, including one that read “Life of our nation, liberty of our people, victory of the American spirit,” were posted on top of campaign stickers for Bernie Sanders.
Review of any video footage capturing the incident is being reviewed by Public Safety and is part of an ongoing investigation, according to Chief of Public Safety Randy Burba.
“We will continue to document and investigate incidents to try and find those responsible for the stickers. We work with student affairs on having the stickers removed for violation of the posting policy,” Chief of Public Safety Randy Burba told The Panther. “Where the stickers cause damage, we will treat as criminal vandalism. We also will continue to share with our law enforcement partners when these incidents occur. We encourage anyone with any information to reach out to us.”
In a March 3 statement released to the Chapman community, President Daniele Struppa said he was “saddened and angry” by the incident.
“I have no tolerance for individuals or groups who come with the sole purpose of bringing hate and discord to our campus,” Struppa’s statement read. “Hate cannot divide us, rather, it should bring us closer together. Our community is stronger than their agenda so let’s stay vigilant.”
Patriot Front, a Texas-based offshoot of the white supremacist group Vanguard America, became prominent after the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, according to The Southern Poverty Law Center.
Patriot Front propaganda first appeared on Chapman’s campus Aug. 26 and then again Sept. 15. In the first two incidents, stickers were posted on informational boards and benches and some were posted on busts around campus, including the busts of Abraham Lincoln and former president of Mexico, Benito Juarez. Others obscured fliers advertising the school’s event series, La Frontera, which focused on humanitarian and immigration issues.
Photo by Louisa Marshall
Chapman launched an initial investigation into who posted the propaganda on campus after the Aug. 26 incident, but multiple people and organizations claimed responsibility for the stickers, according to Dean of Students Jerry Price. It is unclear if all on-campus propaganda drops were conducted by students or individuals not affiliated with Chapman.
Patriot Front has targeted Orange County locations within the last week, graffitiing the headquarters of the Orange County Democratic Party Feb. 29 with propaganda stickers. Although the OC Democratic Party did not release the name of the group involved with the hit to “minimize press attention that the group may receive,” photos from the scene identified Patriot Front as the organization responsible, according to the Los Angeles Times.
A police report was filed about the incident, according to a press release from the the Democratic Party of Orange County. A hate crime report was also filed with the Orange County Human Relations Commission.
Struppa concluded his March 3 statement by encouraging students and community members to exercise their civic engagement and vote in this year’s Super Tuesday election.
“I encourage you to get out and vote, and not let this propaganda deter you,” Struppa said.
This year, Chapman is serving as a regional voting center. The center is located in Argyros Forum 119A and is open Super Tuesday until 8 p.m.
This is a developing story. Follow The Panther as we continue to update the Chapman and Orange community.