U. of Oregon student charged with shouting anti-Semitic slurs

A University of Oregon student has been arrested and charged with intimidation for allegedly shouting anti-Semitic slurs at another student outside of a Jewish fraternity.

The student was identified as Damien Leon Ramirez, 23, a cinema studies major, the university told the local newspaper, The Register-Guard. The university is located in Eugene, Oregon.

A 20-year old man told police that Ramirez was sitting in his pickup truck parked outside the Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi. When the man told Ramirez to leave, he allegedly responded with anti-Semitic slurs. Ramirez then got out of the truck as requested, kicked its side and said he would return with a firearm.

Robin Holmes, vice president for Student Life at the university, said in a statement published on the website of news station KEZI that the university community is “deeply disturbed,” by the October 30 incident, reported by news outlets for the first time on Tuesday evening.

“We do not tolerate hate crimes or threats founded in bias against any individuals or groups,” the statement said.

Holmes added that University President Michael Schill has “personally reached out to express his concern and support for the fraternity. The university will continue to work with Alpha Epsilon Pi to ensure that they have the resources and support needed to feel safe as a part of our campus community.”

In July 2014, unknown vandals etched 11 black swastikas on a cluster mailbox in front of the AEPi house.

— JTA