NEW BRUNSWICK — Rutgers police are looking into an anti-Islam poster found on campus that calls for a “Muslim-free America,” authorities announced Tuesday.
The poster, found Monday on a university building, depicted silhouettes of the Twin Towers and an American flag against a black background with the phrase, “Imagine a Muslim-free America” written across the sign.
On the bottom, the poster had contact information linking the message to a white supremacy group, American Vanguard. The group launched an anti-immigration campaign this week at seven Texas universities, which featured the same poster found at Rutgers, according to the group’s website.
University officials said there was only one poster found on campus. Police responded to reports of the poster in New Brunswick just before 5:30 p.m. and took it down.
In an emailed statement, the university said:
“Several members of the Rutgers University-New Brunswick community on Monday evening reported that they were offended and threatened by a flyer from American Vanguard that was posted at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, which also serves as a prayer space on campus. Following our standard protocol, the Rutgers University Police Department responded and the flyer was removed. Details of the incident were immediately referred to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
“The contents of the flyer, which was also posted elsewhere nationwide, violate the values and ideals for which Rutgers stands. We strongly condemn this kind of speech and are appalled that our Muslim community was targeted in this way.”
New Jersey’s local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, based in South Plainfield, called for increased sercuity for Muslim students at the university.
“The diversity of the student body at Rutgers University has long been a source of pride and inspiration, and the University administration must not allow narrow-minded bigots to tarnish its reputation and intimidate its students,” said CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Sues.
There has been at least one protest a month at Rutgers’ New Brunswick campus since Donald Trump was elected president with hundreds speaking out against the anti-immigration rhetoric surrounding Trump’s candidacy, as well as his presidency.
Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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