Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden came out loudly against the arson attack this week at the Chabad House at the University of Delaware in Newark, calling it “deeply disturbing.”
The former U.S. vice president graduated from the university in 1965 with a double major in history and political science, and a minor in English. He also played halfback for the Blue Hens freshman football team.
“This news is deeply disturbing—as an alum of @UDelaware and as an American. We need a full and swift investigation into what happened Tuesday night,” tweeted Biden on Thursday. “With anti-Semitism on the rise across the country, we all have a moral obligation to speak out and give hate no safe harbor.”
This news is deeply disturbing — as an alum of @UDelaware and as an American. We need a full and swift investigation into what happened Tuesday night.
With anti-Semitism on the rise across the country, we all have a moral obligation to speak out and give hate no safe harbor. https://t.co/YofvhFv6wA
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 28, 2020
The building was set ablaze on Tuesday at about 11 p.m. Damages were estimated to be between $150,000 and $200,000.
Although in his tweet Biden mentioned anti-Semitism and the need to fight it in the United States, the incident has not been confirmed as an anti-Semitic attack. The Chabad House was one of a number of buildings that have been set ablaze recently by a serial arsonist in the area.
A fundraising page has been set up to help rebuild the Chabad. As of press time, it has raised $295,205 with a fundraising goal of $500,000. And a criminal investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the arson should call the Delaware Fire Marshal at 302-323-5375 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.