Williams College students face disciplinary action for KKK hoax to attack Trump
Two Williams College students are now facing disciplinary action after hoaxing vandalism which appeared to be Ku Klux Klan (KKK) inspired days after the 2016 Election. “AMKKK KILL” was spelled out in fake blood on the walls on staircases of a building (Griffin Hall) prompting the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Massachusetts State Police getting involved in the case.
The two unidentified students were isolated after the investigation centered on 40 persons of interest, reportedly were acting as a statement against President-Elect Donald Trump.
photo John Hain via Pixabay
Williams College President Adam Falk said in a statement that the two students admitted “they had committed the vandalism to bring attention to the effects of the presidential election on many within our community.”
The Williams Record detailed the vandalism case, noting that campus organizations had to cancel meetings in the building as a result of the incident.
“Griffin, normally locked during non-academic hours, was unlocked on Saturday morning due to a local organization’s training session which had been planned to take place in one of the classrooms. The training was cancelled and no one from the organization entered the building,” they noted.
“Their actions did much more than damage property,” Falk continued. “They harmed our entire community and caused considerable fear, among students in particular.”
“We are deeply distressed that anyone in our community would feel compelled to express themselves in such a destructive and harmful way,” Falk said.
Media Relations Director Mary Dettloff described the WPD’s classification process. “The [WPD] classified it as vandalism because they would need to have established intent with the actual person who committed the crime in custody to classify it as anything more serious, given the lack of explicit targeted individual or group,” Dettloff said.
“In the current post-election climate, we have a heightened awareness for any actions or expressions that may be bias incidents,” Falk said.
Falk encouraged students to reach out to support staff on campus. Sandstrom and College Council Co-Presidents Michelle Bal ’17 and Caitlin Buckley ’17 both sent emails early Monday evening reminding students of campus resources.
CSS does not plan to release operational or investigate details. There is no official report regarding the incident.
