Campus police at Harvard University's School of Law are investigating an incident in which someone placed strips of black tape across the portraits of the school's black professors.
As detailed by law student Michele Hall at Blavity, the discovery was made by students on Thursday morning.
Another student, Jonathan Wall, posted photos on Twitter this morning, suggesting the vandalism was in response to a protest rally on campus Wednesday afternoon, held in conjunction with students from neighboring school Tufts University to show solidarity with on-campus protests around the country.
In response to yesterday's protests, cowards have covered the faces of Harvard Law's Black professors w/ black tape. pic.twitter.com/IuNd9ckucj— the other one (@imfromraleigh) November 19, 2015
The vandalism also came a day after the law school's student community published an open letter to Dean Minnow regarding the on-campus "#RoyallMustFall" movement, asking to cease the usage of the Royall Family Crest as that of Harvard's.
The Royall family is tied to the founding of Harvard's law school through donated funds and land used for the school. But as the "Royall Must Fall" movement contends, the family was also notorious for being brutal slavers, an image which the school must divest itself from.
The open letter states:
Physical symbols are an expression of who we are and what we value as a community. From the portraits of professors on the second floor of Wasserstein, to the paintings in the library, to the current composition of the faculty, the law school is filled with visual reminders that this school was created by, and for, white men. The most ubiquitous of these symbols, the seal—which adorns all of our buildings, apparel, stationery, and diplomas—honors a slaver and murderer.
The movement was quick to post on this morning's incident on its Facebook page.
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A spokesman for the Harvard University Police told the Boston Globe they are conducting an “open and active investigation.”
Harvard Law Dean Martha Minow sent an email community this morning, saying she was "saddened and angered" by the vandalism, while calling for a meeting for the school community at noon.
Mashable has reached out to Dean Minow for comment on the incident.
Update: another response from Dean Minow pic.twitter.com/md3pQDCSxa— the other one (@imfromraleigh) November 19, 2015
A #Harvard Law School "community meeting" after portraits of black faculty were vandalized today. @thecrimson pic.twitter.com/7AApdu9uhw— Andy Duehren (@aduehren) November 19, 2015
Another student, Kendra Albert, posted updates from the dean's meeting with students.
Student asks Dean Minow what the administration's response is. She says they're investigating, meeting is to create space to talk.— Kendra Albert (@KendraSerra) November 19, 2015
Student: people feel psychologically unsafe. We are not immune to the things that are happening at Yale, at Mizzou. So many shootings— Kendra Albert (@KendraSerra) November 19, 2015
Student - I view the events from this morning with the walk outs from last night. These events are to silence people of color.— Kendra Albert (@KendraSerra) November 19, 2015
The meeting concluded with Dean Minow acknowledging that racism was a problem at the school.
Dean Minow: Racism is a serious problem. It is my life's work.— Kendra Albert (@KendraSerra) November 19, 2015
A previously scheduled meeting for Nov. 30, meant to hold an open discussion on recent events, will still take place as planned.
By mid-morning, to combat the vandalism, students had added post-it notes to the defaced portraits, highlighting positive aspects of each of the professors.
Students have added post-its with positive notes about the faculty members whose portraits were defaced. pic.twitter.com/m026DVs4DD— Kendra Albert (@KendraSerra) November 19, 2015