UNC is investigating a round of vandalism that took place in the early Monday morning hours at Polk Place, where paint was put on the steps and sidewalk near South Building, Wilson Library and the quad’s flagpole. According to an incident report filed to UNC Police, the act took place between 3:16 a.m. on Monday — when the area was last reported as normal — and 7:38 a.m. when the vandalism was discovered. The defacement, as first reported by The Daily Tar Heel, featured anti-genocide and pro-Palestinian phrases in black paint and splashes or handprints in red paint. In capitalized letters, the messages near South Building and Wilson Library read: “I TOLD YOU I LOVED YOU,” “I WANTED GENOCIDE TO END,” “YOU TOLD ME,” and “NOW I NEED FREEDOM.” The central flagpole, which was the site of a clash between pro-Palestine demonstrators and law enforcement in April 2024, was painted with red handprints, the word “liar,” and “LIFE LIBERTY JUSTICE 4 ALL” around its base. The vandalism’s phrasing ...