The president of a prominent black college was blasted as the "overseer" of the "Trump plantation" in a spray-painted message — along with other graffiti on the Howard University campus — after a White House meeting with leaders of historically black colleges.
Graffiti at Howard University called its president an "overseer" at "Trump plantation." https://t.co/KZK3g4g8Zp https://t.co/QW2tCfrBhe— DCist (@DCist) 1488329160.0
Washington, D.C., stations WTTG-TV and WRC-TV said Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick was part of Monday's meeting at the White House.
Pres Trump welcomes officials from Historically Black Colleges & Universities into the Oval Office. Plans to issue… https://t.co/SuFfb5YYi4— Mark Knoller (@Mark Knoller) 1488234130.0
The graffiti was discovered Tuesday morning on the Washington, D.C., campus, DCist reported.
In today's episode of Howard University Shenanigans https://t.co/W6aEMrc98H— Lauryn Kai (@Lauryn Kai) 1488297548.0
On today's episode of Only @ Howard ...🌚🌚🌚 https://t.co/pqkui0zHKh— Kiara • Brand Designer (@Kiara • Brand Designer) 1488291368.0
Here's Frederick's response to the graffiti:
@Italia_calino In response to the vandalism on Howard's campus from President Frederick. https://t.co/AzF8oypoNT— keep it 2virgiłs playa (@keep it 2virgiłs playa) 1488325672.0
Frederick also was criticized after meeting with Secretary of Education Nancy DeVos on campus in early February:
We furthermore do not agree with the meeting that took place between Howard University and Betsy DeVos.— #HUAgainstHate (@#HUAgainstHate) 1486702927.0
After her visit, Frederick said the school was "pleased" that DeVos "chose to visit our institution as her first official campus visit” and that Howard has "a longstanding, successful relationship with the Department of Education, and I look forward to advancing this relationship under the Secretary’s leadership,” DCist reported.
Thanks to @HUPrez17 & student leaders for the great discussion @HowardU today. Congrats on #HowardU150! https://t.co/OfkP5w1nV9— Betsy DeVos (@Betsy DeVos) 1486673374.0
Some students weren't buying it, though:
In fact, a student group — HUResist — met with Frederick and demanded Howard reject federal funding and ban Republican President Donald Trump from all university-affiliated buildings, the outlet noted.
HUResist said it wasn't behind the spray-painted message against Frederick:
Just for clarification: the spray paint and messages on Howard's campus were not an official action by HUResist.— HU Resist (@HU Resist) 1488293912.0
Furthermore any future destruction of property in any form should not be attributed to HUResist— HU Resist (@HU Resist) 1488294144.0
Some Howard students weren't pleased about the graffiti.
"I see the students' need to protest, but this is just clear vandalism," sophomore Francisco Joseph told DCist. "I'm never about slandering people — this went a little bit too far."
Sophomore Taylor Washington told the outlet she also saw graffiti by some dorms and that the term "overseer" for Frederick is a slap in the face in the black community. "I just feel like it's a little dramatic," she said.