A burned Palestinian flag was found on American University's East Campus Friday afternoon after a week of vigils and protests commemorating the Oct. 7 attacks and the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war.

According to an Instagram report, the flag was found charred by flames in the dirt along Nebraska Avenue Northwest around 3:30 p.m. Friday post from the AU chapter “Students for Justice in Palestine.” No details were released about who was responsible for the flag burning, and the university said it occurred outside AU grounds.

“The university has allowed this hatred to fester on campus, from refusing to support AU community members under attack to repeatedly complying with Zionist donor demands and shutting down SJP events,” SJP said in the post on Saturday. “This is a threat to the safety of all marginalized and oppressed people on campus, especially Palestinians.”

The post received over 3,000 likes and students' comments flooded in. Many of them expressed dissatisfaction with the university's failure to respond publicly to the incident.

“AU rejects divisive actions like this that cause pain to members of our community. We are focused on bringing our community together in unity, mutual support and learning,” Matt Bennett, vice president and chief communications officer, said in a statement to The Eagle. “Campus support services are available to all community members who may be impacted by this event.”

At the beginning of the week, the university sentenced Graffiti was sprayed on Glover Gate and around the entrance to AU. The words “Genocide,” “Free Palestine,” and “Divest Now” were written in red paint on the gate and nearby sidewalk.

University President Jonathan Alger released a statement calling the graffiti a “disgraceful act” and encouraging students to close ideological gaps and create a more inclusive AU.

Both incidents occurred the week of Oct. 7, as students grappled with a year of Israel-Hamas war. SJP called last week “Week of anger” and held protests and vigils for Palestinians killed in the conflict. Students support Israel held a vigil for the victims of the October 7 Hamas attack and AU Hillel sponsored a ““Reflections and Connections” series.” for students.

Also students coordinated Last week, two resolutions supported by the AU Student Government were passed calling on the university to divest from companies and programs that support the State of Israel.

SJP and other student groups continue to call for divestment and generally greater attention from the administration to Islamophobia and hatred toward Palestinians on campus. The SJP has demanded that the university open an additional investigation into the burning of the Palestinian flag.

“We remain true to our mission of calling for withdrawal from the Zionist regime, enforcing an arms embargo, ending the genocide and achieving complete and total liberation,” SJP said in a statement to the Eagle. “No amount of hatred and intimidation will ever turn us from our path.”

This article was edited by Maya Cederlund, Tyler Davis, and Abigail Turner. Copy editing by Luna Jinks.

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