Hate crime that sparked EMU protests deemed hoax
An alleged hate crime that sent Eastern Michigan University’s campus into racial unrest in has now been confirmed as a hoax by local authorities.
As Campus Reform reported in September, students took to the streets to protest, and even blocked traffic at one point, in response to racist images found on campus, including “KKK” in red, white, and blue spray paint and “leave N*****s.”
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At the time, students were demanding that the university redouble its efforts to catch the perpetrator, and the school offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the vandal’s arrest.
“The university strongly condemns such a racist and thoughtless act, which runs counter to the values and welcoming environment of our highly diverse Eastern Michigan University community,” President James Smith remarked in a statement, vowing to address a list of 10 demands submitted by student protesters.
Now, M Live reports that officers have arrested 29-year-old Eddie Carlin, a black man who attended the institution for two years, on three counts of malicious destruction of property.
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According to a press release from the university, the school’s Police Department invested more than 1,080 hours into the case—equivalent to 135 full-time, eight-hour days—reviewing more than 1,200 hours of video and even receiving support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“The incidents of vandalism on our campus created significant pain, fear and distress among our students, faculty and staff. I joined with many of our community in my own personal anger over these incidents,” Smith stated in the release. “The many initiatives put in place as a result of the incidents are vitally important and will continue regardless of the outcome of the criminal proceedings.”
Among those initiatives are increased lighting and additional cameras on campus, the creation of a "Presidential Commission on Diversity and Inclusion," and expanded diversity and inclusion training for employees.
"EMU police efforts related to the investigation of these crimes are in addition to the day-to-day work in providing a safe community for students, faculty and staff," said EMU Chief of Police Robert Heighes. "The safety of our community is achieved through the cooperation of our campus community and support for the EMU Police Department, both on campus and in patrolling areas of Ypsilanti surrounding the campus.”
(H/t: The Daily Caller)
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @AGockowski
