At Emory University, writing 'Trump 2016' on sidewalk is a racist microaggression

Dear Emory Community,

Yesterday I received a visit from 40 to 50 student protesters upset by the unexpected chalkings on campus sidewalks and some buildings yesterday morning, in this case referencing Donald Trump. The students shared with me their concern that these messages were meant to intimidate rather than merely to advocate for a particular candidate, having appeared outside of the context of a Georgia election or campus campaign activity. During our conversation, they voiced their genuine concern and pain in the face of this perceived intimidation.

The election in Georgia may be over, but it is very much the case that there is still an ongoing national conversation about who the Republican Party nominee will be, and, ultimately, who will win the White House. Trump is one such contender. It’s not remotely clear—nor even plausible—that the message “Trump 2016” was non-political in tone (and it shouldn’t matter). Students who voiced “genuine concern and pain in the face of this “perceived intimidation” should have been told their perception is at odds with reality, does not supersede other people’s free expression rights, and should be recalibrated if “Trump 2016” causes them actual pain. Sadly, this is not what the president told them.