The University of California’s president’s Berkeley residence was vandalized with racist hatred
A fence was built around the Berkeley home of Dr. Michael V. Drake, president of the University of California system. The fence failed to provide the intended protection for Dr. Drake and his family.
Several reports said vandals jumped over the fence in May to spread their hateful messages. The graffiti they left included the date of Jan. 6, 2021, marking the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Berkeley police confirmed that the front of the mansion had been spray-painted with “racial slurs, profanity, and other miscellaneous words and symbols.” Windows were also broken.
Campus officials said Dr. Drake, who is Black, and his family were not home when the hate crime occurred.
The University of California has purchased a $6.5 million Berkeley home for Drake and his family.
Drake is the 21st president of UC’s world-renowned system of 10 campuses, five medical centers, three nationally affiliated labs, more than 280,000 students, and 230,000 faculty and staff.
The Regents of the University of California worked to provide additional security measures at the Berkeley home, and Berkeley police are conducting a hate crime investigation.