'Act of antisemitism': Police investigate desecration of Torah scroll at fraternity house
The president of George Washington University is speaking out after a fraternity house was vandalized and a Torah scroll was desecrated.
The Tau Kappa Epsilon house was broken into over the weekend and members found detergent dumped onto religious texts, including a Hebrew Torah, when they arrived home Sunday morning, according to CNN. The Torah is the Jewish holy scripture, composed of the Five Books of Moses.
"I am appalled by the antisemitic vandalism that occurred at the TKE fraternity house, especially the desecration of the Torah scroll," GWU President Thomas LeBlanc said in a statement. "Any act of antisemitism is an attack on the entire GW community and cannot, and will not, be tolerated."
Chris Osborne, TKE chapter president, told CNN there was a Bible also in the room, but the Torah was the only one vandalized. He said the TKE fraternity chapter is made up of 25% Jewish members.
"I believe it was a hate crime," Osborne told the outlet.
The university and fraternity are cooperating with police and the Anti-Defamation League to investigate the incident.
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The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department told USA TODAY there were no updates as of Monday afternoon.
"Our entire chapter is outraged and saddened by this blatant act of antisemitism and violence against our brothers," TKE said in a statement on Instagram.
Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Torah scroll desecrated at George Washington University fraternity
