VOI World/ Astha Pandey
Raja Krishnamoorthi condemns anti-Indian graffiti found inside a New York University library, an incident that has sparked renewed concerns over the safety of Indian-origin students on U.S. campuses. The graffiti, discovered at NYU’s Bern Dibner Library in Brooklyn, included antisemitic symbols and slurs targeting Indians and other minority communities. University officials quickly removed the markings as law enforcement began treating the matter as a potential hate crime.
In a public statement, Raja Krishnamoorthi condemned the anti-Indian graffiti as “wholly unacceptable” and warned against the normalisation of hate in academic environments. He emphasised that intimidation directed at Jewish, Indian, Black, or any other minority group has no place in institutions built on the principles of inclusion and critical inquiry.
Krishnamoorthi, who represents Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives, urged authorities to identify those responsible and ensure accountability. He also called on universities to strengthen preventive measures, noting that symbolic gestures are insufficient when students feel unsafe because of their identity.
The incident comes amid a rise in hate-related cases across U.S. campuses, with civil rights organisations warning that polarised political discourse and global tensions are increasingly spilling into student spaces. Many campus groups at NYU highlighted the psychological toll such acts can have, stressing that libraries and classrooms should remain among the safest spaces for learning.
Raja Krishnamoorthi’s condemnation of the anti-Indian graffiti has resonated strongly with Indian-origin students, who view the episode as a reminder of the vulnerabilities they face even in institutions that publicly champion diversity. His intervention is being seen as an important signal of political solidarity and visibility for the Indian-American community.
