Last week, unsettling images emerged from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, depicting the shooting of an ICE officer on campus. One particular hand-drawn poster included a grim message stating, “The only good fascist is a dead fascist,” illustrating a man with sunglasses, a mask, and a hat, identified as ICE by his shirt, with blood streaming from his head.
This image was first brought to light by the Madison Federalist, an independent student publication. A student involved, who wished to remain anonymous, captured the image and later removed it from the post. He said his initial reaction was typical for a college environment, but he felt a mix of disgust and concern about the harmful implications it conveyed, especially in a politically charged setting.
The student expressed feeling almost threatened, suggesting that such displays normalize violence against individuals with conservative viewpoints on campus. He also noted that political bias seems to seep into classroom settings, with many professors portraying conservative perspectives unfavorably. This trend, as he described, has worsened since the assassination of Charlie Kirk last September.
Nick Jacobs, president of the University of Wisconsin Republicans, echoed similar concerns, noting an increase in hostile rhetoric since Kirk’s death. He described a troubling atmosphere where students feel encouraged to express threats against Republicans and ICE agents. Jacobs remembered that following a memorial held for Kirk, left-wing messages appeared alongside the chalk memorial almost immediately.
A related image was found on campus recently, also showing an ICE agent being shot with a message that read, “Speak their language.” The poster conveyed a dangerous sentiment, claiming, “Fascism cannot be voted out.” Both incidents are currently under investigation by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus Police, although the school has not provided further comments on the matter.
