Vandalism Incident at San Jose State University
It seems there’s a perceived absence of bigotry on one side of the political spectrum, which has, perhaps, led to some exaggeration from the other. Take the situation at San Jose State University (SJSU), for instance. Over the last couple of years, various campus buildings and public areas have been targeted with graffiti.
This vandalism included messages of “anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racial and discriminatory slurs, and threats of violence” directed at specific groups and the university community overall.
Recently, the Ministry of Justice announced the arrest of a graduate student, Ziheng “Tony” Fang, who, at 30 years old, has been charged with disseminating false information. Notably, Fang is known for his outspoken critiques of immigration policies and certain political movements, expressing support for immigrant and pro-Palestinian stances.
The reports suggest that Fang identified himself as “100% woke” on social media platforms. It’s said he displayed an LGBT rainbow flag on his profile on one platform and characterized his activities as those of an “activist” on several others.
SJSU police received reports of hateful graffiti starting in October 2024. These messages often included specific threats and outlined potential methods of violence, further raising concerns within the campus community.
For example, one alarming message discovered in November of 2025 warned, “!Warning! Mass bomb next week!” along with various hateful comments towards specific communities. The Justice Department has stated that investigators found Fang’s fingerprints on one of these messages.
Another message, deemed particularly egregious, threatened “Kill all Jews, Muslims, Chinks, and Mexicans.” The context and implications of such a message understandably caused distress among students and faculty alike.
Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana voiced his concerns over these incidents, highlighting additional hateful remarks discovered on campus, further underlining the troubling atmosphere that has arisen.
As per the investigation, it has been revealed that Fang was captured on surveillance footage entering and leaving the areas where the graffiti was found during a crucial time frame. These instances have triggered a broader police investigation and have led to the university’s DEI Committee organizing a “Campus Climate Forum” aimed at addressing these issues.
The university has since initiated measures to enhance training for both staff and student leaders, collaborated with multiple universities on research, and increased campus security patrols to maintain student safety.
Some classes were even canceled due to the specific nature of the threats made within the graffiti messages, showcasing the heightened concern linked to the potential for violence.
On May 21, the university and police announced that an investigation—assisted by the FBI—concluded with Fang being identified as a suspect in numerous instances of hate speech across the campus. Following these revelations, Fang faced expulsion and was charged with felony vandalism and threats.
Interestingly, Fang is identified as a “Chinese national” in police records and is currently in federal custody. While he has only been charged in connection with one specific incident from November 5, the affidavit suggests he is also being investigated for multiple other messages as well.
SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson expressed gratitude for the resolution of this troubling trend, remarking on the genuine harm these incidents have caused to the campus community.
