April 16, 2016

University of Wisconsin police apologize for going into a classroom to confront a student about graffiti on campus.



That's a photograph by the police of one of 11 incidents of vandalism on campus that were attributed to the 21-year-old student. There's a lot of talk on campus about the decision to go into the classroom:
Top officials at the University of Wisconsin criticized and apologized Friday for an incident with campus police that comes as a result of the UW's struggle with racial issues.

Thursday UW police officers made the uncommon move of interrupting a class to remove a student for questioning. In this case, for a recent rash of graffiti, messages against racism and white supremacy. They appeared after several racist or intolerant incidents this school year....

Police say before going into the classroom, which they usually only do for emergencies, officers had spent two weeks trying to reach the student by phone and at his home. The officer didn't realize class had already started when he walked in and confronted the suspect, Denzel McDonald.
Why, then, you might wonder, was there an apology? There are many reasons to apologize, of course. An apology may be or may seem like the simplest way to defuse a controversy. Meanwhile, the police have released the body-cam footage of the classroom interruption and the discussion with the student. I'd characterize it as respectful and low key. You can watch it yourself:



ADDED: Here's the full set of photographs of the graffiti. Another example:

79 comments:

Michael K said...

I assume the student is a "person of color" or no apology would have been necessary.

Oso Negro said...

I would say it is pretty reasonable to arrest the student for racist vandalism. Pulling him out of class was probably a practical alternative to arresting him after class, when a spontaneous protest might have erupted.

Anonymous said...

a recent rash of graffiti, messages against racism and white supremacy. They appeared after several racist or intolerant incidents this school year....

Why isn't calling "Devil = White Men" a racist statement rather than a response to racist statements?

Bob Boyd said...

I know some Whitmans and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if what the graffiti says is true.

Wince said...

In this case, for a recent rash of graffiti, messages against racism and white supremacy.

"The devil is a white man" is a message of racism and racial inferiority, not against it.

campy said...

"Why isn't calling "Devil = White Men" a racist statement rather than a response to racist statements?"

There's no such thing as racism against whites.

rhhardin said...

It's not racist. It's multicultural.

David Begley said...

1. More than respectful and low key, man.

2. The police had videos of him doing it. And he apparently rejected their very generous offer.

3. Who was that interloper questioning the police on constitutional law?

4. Expel him.

rhhardin said...

White people are only racist because they're not multicultural.

Chuck said...

Do you mean to tell me that UW-Madison is not a Sanctuary Campus?

chickelit said...

Hillary! would say that the artist is just fighting the systemic with the incidental.

chickelit said...

Why isn't calling "Devil = White Men" a racist statement rather than a response to racist statements?

I asked similar questions here and elsewhere. I was told that it's a numbers thing and that it can't happen.

David Begley said...

Some of the audio was hard to hear but I did hear the student say "slavery" was a justification for his actions.

Putting aside the fact that slavery ended over 100 years ago, it is interesting to note that the University of Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium was the site of an Union Army training camp. The same Union Army that freed the slaves.

This kid is a perfect example of how the race grievance industry works. The likes of Al Sharpton gets a not very bright kid all fired up and he ends up paying a steep price while their masters live in luxury. Horrible.

And I would add that President Obama only threw gasoline on race issues in seven years and did nothing to heal the racial divide.

Michael K said...

"This kid is a perfect example of how the race grievance industry works."

This will not end well for blacks. I have a long article about what it is like to teach in a black high school in the south. It is pretty inflammatory but probably accurate.

At one point the teacher asks his class what would happen if all white people disappeared. The answer illustrates that they are not that stupid.

The kid replied, "We be fucked."

Sal said...

Some of the audio was hard to hear but I did hear the student say "slavery" was a justification for his actions.

UW-Madison should offer a 'World History of Slavery' course and make it part of whatever multi-culti requirement they have.

Curious George said...

Doubt the UW has the stones, but it appears his actions rise to felony level:

Graffiti

The legal term for graffiti/tagging vandalism is Graffiti. Graffiti is defined by Wisconsin Criminal law as intentionally writing, marking, or etching onto the property of another without their consent. In most circumstances, this offense is charged as a Class A misdemeanor and carries a potential sentence of 9 months in jail and $10,000 in fines.

If the property is a highway, state property, owned by a juror, or if the damage is valued at more than $2,500 you could face Class I felony charges. A class I felony carries a potential 3 ½ years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

DrBerkeley said...

Will he be charged with a Hate Crime?

Ken B said...

I guess "kill whitey" is a plea against racial violence.

Mike Sylwester said...

This race-baiting vandal should be expelled from the university.

Phil 314 said...

Couldn't he claim sanctuary while in the classroom?

Laslo Spatula said...

"Poor planning, graffiti-wise.

The letters make a point of being clean and straight, yet by the third line the base-line is lost and the letters get smaller.

Obviously "The Devil" was spray-painted at a comfortable height and arm angle, but as he had to paint lower lines his stance no doubt became awkward and his arm and wrist became constricted, with the resulting text becoming pinched.

Note: "-God". The smallest letters yet, and going upward at the end as if he couldn't wait to straighten back up.

He should've begun higher, so that the lines to follow would still be in the wheelhouse, dexterity-wise.

Perhaps he should take a drafting course.

I am Laslo.

Fernandinande said...

"Anti-racism" is Newspeak for "anti-white racism".

Rather than getting arrested he should be getting college credit.

Fernandinande said...

Mike Sylwester said...
His name is Denzel McDonald.


Scottish, eh? Figgers.

Mike Sylwester said...

UW Police Chief Susan Riseling apologized to students and the professor for the disruption. She said the officer believed the class had not started and her department is reviewing the officer's actions and department procedures.

When I watched the video, it was obvious to me that the class had not started.

This is a good example of how wearing a body camera can be advantageous for a policeman. If this video did not exist, the university administration would be elaborating its yarn about the policeman interrupting the class.

By the way, for the sake of future Google searches, this webpage should mention the race-baiting vandal's name. He is Denzel McDonald.

exhelodrvr1 said...

"messages against racism"

Those aren't messages "against" racism, they are messages promoting racism. Of course, that also applies to the great majority of the Demos leadership.

trumpintroublenow said...

Looking at how he writes the E I'd say Elon Musk is your guy.

Michael said...

Where are the white kids' safe places? Denzel McDonald, the racist kid, at least did not use chalk. I suppose he didn't so as not to scare the peoples of color who might have read an oblique reference to Trump in the medium.

Denzel McDonald, the racist person of color, will not be punished. Mildly scolded, perhaps, but certainly not punished. He will not even have to clean up his mess or pay to have it done.

Sal said...

"This is a good example of how wearing a body camera can be advantageous for a policeman"

The City of Madison decided against cameras for its cops, apparently because of a recommendation of some citizen committee. I suspect the citizen committee was disproportionately black, as all of that took place after the Robinson shooting.

damikesc said...

By the way, for the sake of future Google searches, this webpage should mention the race-baiting vandal's name. He is Denzel McDonald.

Thank you for this. Felons should be named.

Bill Peschel said...

Denzel McDonald should pay for his crimes. Not for the content of his message -- I don't give a royal flip about his stupidity -- but spray paint damages the building. Someone has to clean up after this stupid idiot.

The police could even give him a choice: take a brush and a bucket to his mess and clean it up, or go to jail. That's justice.

Fernandinande said...

Denzel McDonald
"Student at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Public Relations and Communications"

JaimeRoberto said...

What's the big deal? It's not like he chalked out his support for Trump.

AlbertAnonymous said...

Breaking news "UW Chancellor bans spray paint; Racial Protests call for his resignation."

Curious George said...

Susan Riselin is a moron.

cubanbob said...

If you are going to be accused of being the Devil and have to take the opprobrium of being the Devil, then be The Devil. Expel the bum and press vandalism charges. Anyone else getting agitated and excitable about this ought to be expelled and or fired as well. If you are going to be The Devil, be The Devil. No one respects a lame half-assed emasculated Devil. Not even God. When the inevitable whining about the unfairness starts why laugh in the deepest most masculine devilish way one can say you expect fairness from The Devil?

jaydub said...

So, he's studying public relations and communication. I would submit that particular field might be a poor fit for him.

FullMoon said...

Laslo Spatula said... [hush]​[hide comment]

"Poor planning, graffiti-wise.

The letters make a point of being clean and straight, yet by the third line the base-line is lost and the letters get smaller.

Obviously "The Devil" was spray-painted at a comfortable height and arm angle, but as he had to paint lower lines his stance no doubt became awkward and his arm and wrist became constricted, with the resulting text becoming pinched.

Note: "-God". The smallest letters yet, and going upward at the end as if he couldn't wait to straighten back up.

He should've begun higher, so that the lines to follow would still be in the wheelhouse, dexterity-wise.


Pretty good, Laslo.

Birkel said...

Hard out there for a pimp, tryin' to make a dolla outta 15 cents...

Also, whitey had it coming.

--non-racist superpredator

Laslo Spatula said...

FullMoon said...

"Pretty good, Laslo."

The Devil is in the Details.

I am Laslo.

Chuck said...


When do Reverends Sharpton and Jackson arrive in Madison?

AlbertAnonymous said...

Spelling "is" as "iz"? Don't expel him just put him in remedial English class.

I know I know, it's a cultural thing and I'm not sufficiently tolerant ...

Just reminds me of the depressed zebra who didn't know if he was white with black stripes or black with white stripes.

Fabi said...

Thank goodness he didn't write "Trump 2016" in chalk.

jr565 said...

if you would have an issue with a chalk sign that says Trump 16 and you think it makes you so unsafe that you want the person who made it kicked off campus, then in turn I want this guy kicked off campus for putting up a sign that suggests white people are devils. That's racism and a hate crime. Plus, it looks like he wrote it in ink. The guy who wrote Trump 2016 simply stated who he wanted to be president in 2016, and wrote it in chalk. So it can be erased.
This guy wrote his hate speech in ink.

Fabi said...

It's spray paint on masonry, jr565. It's very difficult and quite expensive to remove. Even when sand- or glass-blasted, there will be discoloration of the stone and deterioration of the mortar, which must be re-pointed. Hope the racist little thug is sent the bill.

Laslo Spatula said...

Of course the Devil is a white man.

He heads off to Georgia to get the souls of fiddle players, for God's sake.

I am Laslo.

Fabi said...

Denzel is studying Communications and Public Relations. Sometimes the jokes write themselves.

mockturtle said...

It's not the comment that should be at issue. It's the vandalism.

jeff said...

Surprise surprise, according to ccap Denzel is a repeat offender. Looks like he was convicted last June for vandalism. Guess the reporter forgot to mention that, or could it be that didn't fit their narrative.

dbp said...

"McDonald was then placed under arrest — outside the building — without incident. One of the officers involved was wearing a body camera.

McDonald was booked into the Dane County Jail."

Another black man who will have a criminal record--great job defying stereotypes Mr. McDonald.

Real American said...

While it probably won't be their first choice, the police should arrest more of these bigoted fucktards in class. Class is not a sanctuary and it sends a message to their ideological accomplices that they will be arrested and expelled.

FullMoon said...

Denzel McDonald? Black Irish, I suppose.

Owen said...

McDonald booked into the jail? How will he keep up his classwork?

damikesc said...

If you are going to be accused of being the Devil and have to take the opprobrium of being the Devil, then be The Devil. Expel the bum and press vandalism charges. Anyone else getting agitated and excitable about this ought to be expelled and or fired as well. If you are going to be The Devil, be The Devil. No one respects a lame half-assed emasculated Devil. Not even God. When the inevitable whining about the unfairness starts why laugh in the deepest most masculine devilish way one can say you expect fairness from The Devil?

I have similar thoughts about white people. If we're evil no matter what and oppressors no matter what --- then fucking oppress people. At least make the petty bitching and whining TRUE.

I also still want to know why slavery is the one thing ever where the seller is not held to the same standard as the buyer. Why is the seller always innocent when it comes to slaves?

Fernandinande said...

State of Wisconsin vs. Denzel J Mcdonald
Dane County Case Number 2015FO001393

The defendant Denzel J Mcdonald was found guilty of the following charge(s) in this case.

Vandalism. This is not a criminal offense and results only in a money penalty for this offense.

cubanbob said...

"I have similar thoughts about white people. If we're evil no matter what and oppressors no matter what --- then fucking oppress people. At least make the petty bitching and whining TRUE."

As I like to say "if you are going to do the time, might as well commit the crime".

AllenS said...

I was in the Tractor Supply Co in St Croix Falls, WI, yesterday, and the man in front of me at the check out was attempting to buy two cans of spray paint. They asked him when he was born. He said "(something or other), 1939, I mean 1839". The two of us laughed. Nobody else did. I wonder if Denzel was asked how old he was?

Richard Dolan said...

Marshall McLuhan notwithstanding (does anyone read his stuff anymore?), the medium is not the message. The First Amendment surely protects the message (whatever it was and however intended), but not the medium. Graffiti is so last Tuesday.

rhhardin said...

Don't they have freight trains in Madison?

Sal said...

Vandalism. This is not a criminal offense and results only in a money penalty for this offense

Which he can easily pay out of his minority student grants.

Jupiter said...

It's certainly fortunate that the taxpayers of Wisconsin have built an institution of higher learning in which this young man's natural talents are being cultivated so that he can achieve his full potential. They might also want to fund some additional space at the State Penitentiary, and I expect some money will be needed to help his baby-Mama raise his get. You can certainly see why the Administrative Class is fond of folks like young Denzel. He will be driving up taxes for as long as he lives.

Nice North Face wind-breaker he's culturally appropriating there.

MayBee said...

Have any of the white students gone on a hunger strike to protest yet?

Rosalyn C. said...

Coincidentally, I noticed yesterday the beautiful limestone side walls of our Post Office have been painted over with a thick, heavy duty gloss paint. Disappointing for me, but maybe no one else notices or cares? IDK I'm sure it's easier to clean the graffiti off now.
Thanks to some aggrieved dirtbags, we can all live with less enjoyment. Wasn't that the point here, that we should "apologize" for having a limestone building?

I don't see the value of the campus police apologizing for removing the student from class. To me it seems like the safest way to handle the situation. He would not have voluntarily shown up at the police station.

Regarding the graffiti statement, that's out of Nation of Islam teaching, most notably, Louis Farrakhan.

mockturtle said...

While I am against the enactment of 'hate crimes', per se [crimes are crimes and should be prosecuted accordingly], they should at least be used even-handedly. Has there ever been an instance where a 'person of color' was convicted [or even charged] with a hate crime? The defacement of private or public property as a form of protest should elicit more than a small fine, IMO. Especially a repeat offense.

Michael K said...

"So, he's studying public relations and communication. I would submit that particular field might be a poor fit for him."

Art might be a better fit. It would go well in a Los Angeles gallery I know.

Smilin' Jack said...

This is what diversity looks like!

dbp said...

The vandalism for which Mr. McDonald was found guilty was an earlier incident in 2015.

This vandalism was done to state property and was in excess of $2,500 damage. Either of these reasons could make the charges a felony. This is how I would charge if I was the DA. He obviously did not learn his lesson by getting off easy the first time.

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

Despite her condemnation of expressing beliefs that "diminish others”, it's no surprise that saying "The Devil Iz A White Man," doesn't seem to bother רִבְקָ×”.

dbp said...

"Dbp, so if he does it again, can they give him life?"

Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. If he is charged with a felony and convicted, this might be his first. Even the most strict jurisdictions give three strikes. That said, the initial hand slap had no deterrent effect. Do you suggest doing the same ineffective thing each time?

Anonymous said...

"After an investigation that spanned six months, UW-Madison police officers arrested Denzel J. McDonald, 21, in connection to at least 11 instances of graffiti on campus, officials said.

"In one instance, a bystander tried to intervene and stop McDonald from defacing a building, but McDonald allegedly threatened to kill the bystander if police were called."

http://www.channel3000.com/news/UW-Madison-student-suspected-in-God-graffiti-arrested-police-say/39032556

Sal said...

The only people crabbing about the police and the arrest are the University leadership and journalists. Even the commenters at the lefty Wisconsin State Journal condemn the racist graffitist by a large margin.

Rusty said...

Art might be a better fit. It would go well in a Los Angeles gallery I know.

It was already trite in the 70s. Then Banksy took it to a whole new level. I do think, however, that the lad might have a future in the criminal justice system.

Gahrie said...

So how does the football team feel about this?

David Begley said...

I didn't see a single law professor sign this stupid petition. Thank goodness there is some sanity in Madison.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m9ZhjljWDRf61t7umPklGx8A5t9qKDwdvxIrdao4Yqs/mobilebasic

Bob Loblaw said...

What the hell? Since when do cops worry about this kind of stuff? You have some overly-solicitous cops in Wisconsin - cops should make the arrest wherever it's most convenient.

And penalties for graffiti are far too lenient.

Curious George said...

You wonder where morons like Denzel McDonald get the idea that vandalism is the way to go? From bigger morons like his UW AA Studies teacher:

“The university is more interested in protecting the symbols of UW as a progressive institution like their buildings and Bucky rather than the students who are actually fighting for social change, and apparently their lives,” said Dr. Almiron. “The way UWPD officers entered my class was very aggressive with bullet proof vests and guns visible. I cannot believe they humiliated and terrified my students. The fact that our classrooms are not respected as spaces of learning is absolutely appalling.”

Would someone translate her first sentence from stupid to English please?

Mark Caplan said...

The devil is in fact a white man, or, more accurately, a white ex-angel. See for instance Milton's Paradise Lost. Saying the devil is a white man is not the same as saying white men are devils. The latter expression would be racist; the former isn't.

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

@Mark Caplan

Did Milton write the Bible?

James Pawlak said...

The original universities were founded in Medieval times. They were generally chartered by Kings and, in his name, most-often governed by "Regents" (A word derived from such royal authority). Their faculty and even the newest student were above the civil law as to crimes committed on campus and could demand and expect trial only by academic courts. Such medieval schools had their own laws, courts and punishments.
The classrooms of those ancient times were treated as were churches and students were immune from even the universities' own police during lectures or discussions. In other ways they were immune from the law as applied to Non-U citizens/subjects of their cities and nations.
It appears, from reports as to the student who defaced UW property, that some faculty and students of UW still believe that they have some special protections from normal police investigations.  It, most certainly, appears that UW's police took every reasonable prior-effort (Over weeks) to contact the noted student and before entering a class room.
The UW Police Chief's "Forced Apology" stinks of a racist over-protection of a (All?) Black student-suspects.
If, and only if, Professor "Mike" Wagner's student was responsible for the reported "Criminal Damage To Property", he may have been a good student---But, is such a bad citizen as would warrant-and-require his expulsion from UW. (S/he might better have made up a sign to wear rather than waste student-tuition and tax-payers monies in cleaning up a "mess" and investigating a crime.
The news report claims witnesses stating that student was "handled roughly". Does that mean the police spoke to him above a whisper? The news-report does not provide details.
If, and only if, that student and his (?) co-actors truly wish to address "Racism", I suggest that they focus on those Black thugs who, on a basis of race, specially select-out Whites as targets for their attacks.
All should also consider the behavior of racially identifiable citizens of Chinese decent who did not whine-and-snivel about "Racism"; But relied on their personal, family and cultural strengths to become leaders in academic achievement---AND under-represented in our prisons and jails.

Peter said...

"It's not the comment that should be at issue. It's the vandalism. "

As a public university, UW is permitted to restrict the time, place or manner of speech but may not discriminate on the basis of its content.

Thus, it tries very hard to avoid the impression that it engages in content-based discrimination. Yet we all know that "THE DEVIL IZ A BLACK MAN" would prompt a campus crisis, and no one would get upset if a class was disrupted in the process of removing a white student who spray-painted such a thing on (or even off) school property.

But then, if the reality of compliance to the First Amendment were more important than the mere appearance of compliance, public universities would have to challenge the legitimacy of the entire project to protect students from "hurtful" speech (with all its variations, including but not limited to speech codes).