The University of Iowa was swarmed with protesters requesting the removal of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity chapter Aug. 31.
“The University of Iowa Fiji needs to be abolished from campus,” Twitter user myranda wrote that evening. “They are harboring rapists under the guise of fraternal brotherhood.”
A crowd of 2,000 protesters gathered outside of the Phi Gamma Delta, commonly called Fiji, on Ellis Avenue following sexual assault allegations made against participating members, The Daily Iowan reported.
The university is the second institution to be filled by protesters as a response a few days after the Fiji chapter came under fire for similar accusations at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, The Daily Iowan reported.
The objectors also created an online petition to demand action and serve justice in these allegations of rape. The petition had 70,000 signatures as of Aug. 31, KCRG reported.
“I think it almost inspired and made us feel energized in the sense that this can be something big,” protest organizer and University of Iowa student Amelia Keller said. “This is something people care about, and it’s such a similar story of what happened at Nebraska’s FIJI, it would almost be remiss of the University of Iowa students — we have sort of a responsibility to have a similar movement here.”
Although some broke windows and kicked down a door at Iowa City fraternity house, the majority of protester were peaceful, KCRG reported. Iowa City Police officers dispatched nearby did not intervene.
Before the protests officially commenced at 8 p.m., participants stood along the sidewalks holding signs and handing out water outside the house which stood with some lights on and blinds drawn, The Daily Iowan reported. Despite a generally peaceful atmosphere, chants shaming the alleged perpetrators rang across the block before the crowd began approaching the house, allegedly attacking it with rocks, eggs, graffiti and bangs on the door. The property’s mailbox, security cameras and neighboring cars were also damaged.
“The members of our chapter want to make a firm stance that sexual misconduct will always be found, rooted out, and justly dealt with in our community,” a statement from the fraternity’s University of Iowa chapter said. “We advocate thoroughly for any and all measures that will serve to further create safe circumstances for every individual regardless of race, sex, or gender.”
