A man named Jacob Beacher was charged with a federal hate crime following the vandalism and burglary of an Islamic student center at Rutgers University. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of April 10 on Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, and included a break-in and smashing of religious objects. Beacher was charged with damage to religious property and making fraudulent statements and caused an estimated $40,000 in damage, including destroying prayer stones and items with Qur’anic language. Surveillance footage showed Beacher breaking into the student center, known as CILRU.
Kaiser Aslam, the Muslim chaplain at Rutgers, welcomed the charges against Beacher and commended the university for its support. Aslam noted that the crime occurred at a time when Muslims and Palestinians were being dehumanized and attributed the incident to the center’s pro-Palestinian advocacy. Beacher had no prior interactions with the center and stole a Palestinian flag, charity box, and other items during the vandalism. Public officials, including New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, condemned the incident. Beacher is from New Brunswick and is not affiliated with Rutgers University.
In the aftermath of the attack, the CILRU received significant support from the community, with donations to replace damaged items and expressions of solidarity. The center resumed courses the following week. Rutgers University condemned the act of violence against the Muslim community and emphasized its stance against intolerance based on religion, national origin, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or political views. The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations welcomed the federal hate crime charge and urged university administrators to take action to protect Muslim, Palestinian, and allied students.
Details on Beacher’s lawyer were not available, and the investigation into the incident was ongoing. The FBI agent’s affidavit revealed that Beacher’s cellphone pinged at a nearby park after the break-in, where a stolen charity box was found. Beacher’s initial appearance before a federal judge was scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, and state charges were pending. The University Police Department and spokesperson for Rutgers confirmed Beacher’s arrest and provided information on the charges he faced.
The federal hate crime charge against Beacher reflects the severity of the incident and the university’s commitment to addressing such acts of intolerance. The CILRU expressed gratitude for the community’s support in the wake of the vandalism and highlighted the overwhelming outpouring of donations and messages of solidarity. The incident underscored the importance of safeguarding religious and community spaces and standing against bigotry and hatred in all forms. As the investigation continues, there is a call for swift action to protect vulnerable student populations and ensure their safety on campus.
