This week, one of our city’s most beautiful landmarks, the Anne Frank Memorial, was defaced with swastikas and the message “We are everywhere.” Boise State University condemns the hatred, violence and racism that these symbols and words represent. We recognize the hurt and grief that they produce and hope that, for our Jewish community, the first night of Hanukkah brought some peace, hope and light. We affirm that everyone in our community should be treated with respect and dignity, that no one should live in fear. In the words of former Idaho Governor Cecil Andrus, which are featured at the memorial, “Let us always reject the forces of hatred and bigotry.” Yesterday, the symbols of hate were removed, and the memorial was strewn with flowers and messages that read, “We are everywhere. We choose love.” We will continue to take action by fostering the important dialogue around these issues, educating, and bringing people together across divides. We invite you to listen to a conversation that took place on campus on International Human Rights Day yesterday with faith leaders from across our community.