A UC Berkeley student was charged with felony vandalism Tuesday for alleged graffiti at University Village in Albany.
Between Oct. 14 and Dec. 1, UCPD and the Albany Police Department received several reports of vandalism in and around University Village, according to UCPD sergeant Jacob Westlie.
In an email to The Daily Californian, Westlie said the vandalism included messages “expressing opposition to and advocating death to Zionists, Israel, the IDF, ICE, and the RSF in Sudan” with permanent marker, spray paint and stickers. Westile said the cleanup costs were estimated at more than $7,800.
“We have been confronted with escalating challenges of antisemitic graffiti in Albany,” said Albany Mayor Robin López in a Nov. 24 statement. “I fully denounce this disgustingly vile attempt to normalize hate as an acceptable form of public expression. It’s not acceptable and will not be tolerated.”
According to Westile, UCPD investigators identified UC Berkeley student Sean Ceballos, who was charged by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, as a suspect.
Ceballos has no publicly listed court date as of press time.