James Madison University in Harrisonburg is investigating a fraternity for allegedly yelling LGBTQ+ slurs and using Nazi salutes in broad deadlight.
A Harrisonburg resident posted to social media claiming the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity has also taunted their neighbor who felt so “endangered they did not want to leave their house.”
The frat house is located at 275 Old S. High St. in Harrisonburg.
“JMU is aware of an allegation involving potential students at an off-campus location and is thoroughly investigating,” said Chad Saylor, associate director of media relations and deputy university spokesperson, in an email to AFP Sunday evening.
The resident, whose social media handle is Jaguardini, has more than 2,000 followers on Facebook. The post has been shared more than 60 times.
The resident also reports fraternity members were chanting Sieg Heil and imitating Hitler mustaches.
Elon Musk, Donald Trump fueling antisemitism movement
Hilter has been in the news in the U.S. recently as Elon Musk, who is working in Donald Trump’s administration, made public gestures at Trump’s inauguration which have been compared to a Nazi salute. Musk also shared a message on X this week that said “Stalin, Mao, and Hitler didn’t murder millions of people. Their public sector employees did.” He has since deleted the tweet made to his nearly 220 million followers on X.
With Musk leading the charge for the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, the comments on the public sector haven’t set well with the general public. Since Trump took office, DOGE has wreaked havoc on the federal government with haphazard firings and threats of major budget cuts to Medicaid and social security in the name of cost cutting.
The Anti-Defamation League issued a response to Musk’s tweet saying “it is deeply disturbing and irresponsible for someone with a large public platform to elevate the kind of rhetoric that serves to undermine the seriousness of these issues.”
‘Acts of hate and aggression’ do not belong in Friendly City
The fraternity members also are alleged to have used hate speech repeatedly yelling “faggot” despite several LGBTQ+ members in their immediate neighborhood. The neighborhood also includes people of color, senior citizens and children of refugees, the resident said.
“They were confronted about this and continued their antisemitism/fascist and hateful behavior.”
Jaguardini said they reported the incidents to the national Pi Kappa Alpha headquarters by email.
“In Harrisonburg, Virginia, nicknamed “The Friendly City,” we do not tolerate hate speech. We do not tolerate Nazis. We do not tolerate antisemitism. We do not tolerate anti-LGBTQ+ hate speech. We do not tolerate fascism displayed in this manner,” read the email.
“Nazi salutes, Sieg Heil chants, imitating Holocaust perpetrator, Adolph Hitler, and yelling “f*g**t” are acts of hate and aggression that this neighborhood will not stand for.
“They do not belong in our friendly community.”
The City of Harrisonburg is “unfamiliar with these allegations” and said it is difficult to comment until they learn more, according to Michael Parks, the director of communications and public engagement for the city.
“I am unaware if this community member has made their concerns that they were being threatened known to authorities,” Parks said. “As always, we would encourage any community member who feels they are being threatened to contact law enforcement so the matter can be reviewed or investigated.”
AFP has also reached out to the JMU Police Department and the Shenandoah LGBTQ Center for comment.
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Crystal Graham
