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The New Guard

9/11 Display Vandalized at Mount Holyoke College

By

Julia Johnson

July 19, 2023

A 9/11 memorial flag display put on by Mount Holyoke College Republicans through Young America’s Foundation’s 9/11: Never Forget Project was the latest to fall victim to vandals.  

On September 11, after the display had been set up to pay tribute, a student found a chalk message, which originally read “In loving memory of those who died on 9/11,” was now smeared and crossed out. Below it in different chalk read, “there is blood on U.S. hands.” 

The student told Young America’s Foundation, “It’s just very disappointing and disrespectful.”  

“Some students on campus might have personal experience with [9/11] and that’s extremely insensitive to disrespect their space and experience like that.” 

Mount Holyoke College Republicans Vice President Lela Gallery said, “Every American on campus should be united by this memorial. Many Americans of all political ideologies died because of the events on 9/11, and for students to vandalize the memorial is disgusting.” 

MHC’s situation is a part of a disturbing trend in which students are vandalizing memorials meant to honor the innocents who were murdered by radical Islamic terrorists on 9/11.  

YAF reported on a vandalized memorial at both Michigan State University and Washington University 

MHC did not respond to YAF’s request for comment.  

These cruel acts show a disdain for our country, a disrespect for our flag, and an utter disregard for the lives lost on that fateful September day. On this 20th anniversary of 9/11, we have let ourselves forget.  

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