Hundreds rally at Chapel against ‘Death to all fags’ graffiti
Jack said: ‘I am the fag, I do not deserve this treatment, and no one deserves this treatment’
Hundreds of people gathered today to rally against yesterday’s graffiti of “Death to all Fags @ Jack,” scrawled on a freshman’s wall.
As 1pm approached the crowds congregated around the Chapel steps. At first a decent 100 people assembled but soon numbers rose to over 500.
News crews, students, faculty, and local Durhamites all gathered to rally against the hate crime committed yesterday morning on Duke East campus, a death threat to a Freshman student, targeting his sexual identity.
On the morning of November 5th someone went into East House Resident Hall, home of Jack Donahue and vandalized his wall in thick Sharpie, writing “death to all fags @ Jack.”
The incident has provoked an uproar on Duke’s campus, and is now being investigated by the police.
Today, Duke’s community was summoned to the Chapel steps to respond.
News crews set up in all corners. Jack and other leaders took the mic.
The rally began with a call to anyone who felt safe and identified as LBGTQA to join with each other on the top of the chapel steps. Over 30 participants took to the steps – the chapel now symbolically covered in rainbow flags and Love=Love shirts.
Jack Donahue himself took the megaphone first. He thanked those for congregating, explained the chain of events, and gave background into who he is, saying he “would prefer to be a peer, than a face.”
He said: “I am Jack, I am the ‘fag’, I do not deserve this treatment, and no one deserves this treatment.
“This was an assault on the LGBT community, and a threat to the integrity of our campus.”
Others took the megaphone to share the history of Duke’s relationship with the queer community and implausible hate still existing.
Students and faculty stood shoulder to shoulder demanding action from the administration. Many spoke, applauded by snaps.
One leader cried out: “This campus is not yet safe for queer students!”
The rally was well received by passersby. The crowd constantly grew and the web of momentary allies spread.
Jack wrapped up, saying how this incident should not be the reputation of this institution. There are channels to have these conversations and Duke is slowly improving them.
“This is an indication to the conversation that is yet to be had, and the progress that has yet to be made. Let’s have those conversations and lets make that progress.”
This death threat is being taken very seriously by Duke’s campus and conversation is only beginning.