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 pic.twitter.com/QW2tCfrBhe
— DCist (@DCist) March 1, 2017
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 Exec Order on HBCUs. pic.twitter.com/prx4jJNokX
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 27, 2017
The graffiti was discovered Tuesday morning on the Washington, D.C., campus, DCist reported.
In today's episode of Howard University Shenanigans pic.twitter.com/W6aEMrc98H
— Lauryn Kai (@1april_fools) February 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/KiaraLynne__/status/836580750799556608
Here’s Frederick’s response to the graffiti:
@Italia_calino In response to the vandalism on Howard's campus from President Frederick. pic.twitter.com/AzF8oypoNT
— Italia (@Italia_calino) February 28, 2017
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 (@HUAgainstHate17) February 10, 2017
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! pic.twitter.com/OfkP5w1nV9
— Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVos) February 9, 2017
Some students weren’t buying it, though:
https://twitter.com/lilghettogirl_/status/829831364845432832
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.
— ConcernedStudentsHU (@HUResist) February 28, 2017
Furthermore any future destruction of property in any form should not be attributed to HUResist
— ConcernedStudentsHU (@HUResist) February 28, 2017
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.
near my name?