A disturbing image surfaced at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, prompting a police investigation. The graphic depicts a figure representing an ICE agent being shot, with blood forming a thought bubble and the chilling message: "Speak their language." Below, a stark declaration reads, "You can't vote away fascism."
The image, initially discovered by a student, quickly spread after being posted online. Simultaneously, similar graffiti with the same aggressive messaging appeared in the city of Madison, further escalating concerns. Photos of the graffiti also circulated widely on social media platforms.
The emergence of this imagery follows a period of heightened tension within the University of Wisconsin system. This unrest began after the shooting of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, on September 10th, an event that has ignited a firestorm of political rhetoric.
One student leader described a disturbing pattern of escalating threats. He noted that threatening messages directed at college Republicans, ICE agents, and Republicans in general have become almost commonplace, even celebrated by some students.
Recent events on one campus included a chalk memorial for Kirk being defaced within hours of its creation. The defacement mirrored messaging found on bullet casings recovered from the alleged assassin, including lyrics from a song popular within Antifa circles.
This isn’t isolated to large state schools or elite universities, according to those observing the situation. The problem appears widespread throughout the entire education system, reaching a level of intensity not seen before.
Calls are growing for the UW system to take a stronger stance against political violence. A key point of contention is the perceived disparity in response to different tragedies. When George Floyd was killed, the university offered counseling services to students.
However, following Kirk’s death on a college campus, there was a noticeable silence from the administration. This lack of response has fueled accusations of a double standard and a troubling disregard for the safety and well-being of students with differing political views.
A professor at UW-River Falls publicly echoed these concerns, lamenting the lack of an official statement regarding Kirk’s assassination. He argued that the killing on a campus—a place dedicated to the free exchange of ideas—should be a pivotal moment for all universities.
The university system, when questioned about its silence, defended its position by citing a new policy of “institutional neutrality.” This policy restricts statements to matters directly affecting the university’s operations and requires viewpoint neutrality, effectively limiting its ability to comment on broader political events.
This adherence to neutrality, however, has been criticized as a justification for inaction, leaving many to question whether the university is prioritizing political considerations over the safety and intellectual freedom of its students.
