Syracuse Police are working to find author of online hate-speech manifesto

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Police say they are working to figure out who wrote and released a hate-speech manifesto online and to make sure it doesn’t result in any threats against the Syracuse University campus community or any area of the city of Syracuse.

Speaking in a Tuesday afternoon news conference, Syracuse Police Chief Kenton Buckner said police don’t believe that the manifesto is connected to some of the other hate-speech incidents in recent days, including the racist graffiti in Syracuse’s Day Hall and a swastika that was drawn in the snow on Comstock Avenue.

 “But because we are in an active investigation, we certainly can’t definitively make that statement today, but based upon what we know today, we cannot say that those things are connected,” said Buckner.

That manifesto appeared online on a social-media platform, he added.

“We do not believe that there is a direct threat at the University or anywhere around the University involving the students, faculty, or staff there,” said Buckner.

His comment is based on preliminary information and based upon what police officials “know today,” but he also acknowledged it’s an “active, ongoing” situation, which can change.

“If something changes [and] we feel we need to update that to our community, we certainly will do so at the appropriate time and with the appropriate personnel,” said Buckner.

Syracuse Police are working with the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety, the New York State Police, and the FBI office on the investigation.

Buckner opened the press conference with a message to the affected students at Syracuse University.

“We’ve heard you. We certainly have empathy for you. You went through a lot over the past, what is now, almost two weeks. No student should have to go through that. No citizen should have to go through that. We understand the level of concern that our students have. We certainly want to assure them that we’re taking the complaints that they have very seriously. We’re taking any thoughts of threat or anything that may lead them to feel like that they are unsafe … we take that very seriously. But I certainly want them to know that we’ve heard them, and I can assure you that we’re doing everything we can … to make sure that both the students, faculty, and staff are safe on the campus of Syracuse University,” said Buckner.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com