Video shows CWRU student protesters sprayed with paint while demonstrations continue on campus

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - 19 News investigating a viral video that shows protestors being sprayed with paint. Students say it happened at Case Western Reserve University and they want answers.

Raissa, a student protester says it happened when workers came to cover up messages students painted on the university “spirit” wall.

In the video you can see some people stood in front of the wall to try and block the workers from painting it.

“It was a pressurized paint gun spraying harmful chemicals with carcinogens and toxins directly with no concern for health or the well-being of an individual who is paying to be here,” said Raissa.

“We had some students talking to the police like how can they do this. The painters were like were following orders. The police said we’re following orders from higher administrative and I guess they didn’t think of the morality of what they were doing,” said Raissa.

We asked the university why workers were painting the wall. President, Eric Kaler said the messages that were on the wall were quote, “Language that was less than threatening, but still intimidating to the community.”

Kaler said the student protesters defaced a different wall earlier in the week.

Protestors have been camping out on the campus for days now, protesting the war in Gaza. The university says they are trespassing and want them removed.

The student protesters say they want to meet with Kaler. Until that happens, they plan to stay right where they are.

The City of Cleveland released the following statement regarding the incident:

Mayor Justin Bibb and Chief Annie Todd Respond to Recent Incidents on the CWRU Campus

In light of the recent video that surfaced from the CWRU campus, which displays individuals being painted over with spray paint, it is crucial that we express our stance unambiguously.

Cleveland is a city for everyone, and we must respect the thoughts, feelings, and voices of those who come from various backgrounds. These diverse perspectives are what makes us special, and ultimately stronger, as a city. Our community deserves venues where they have the ability to constitutionally-express their opinions openly without fear of criminal interference. We support 1st Amendment rights and implore CWRU leadership to consider this and think about how the decisions they make and the actions they take – especially against those who are abiding by the law – will influence some of the progress we have collectively made as a city. At the same time, we urge individuals to demonstrate peacefully.

We want to be clear in that we condemn all forms of violence and the Division of Police stands ready to offer support should that occur. Public safety has been and always will be our number one priority.

Mayor Bibb & Chief Todd

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