Ohio State Police have issued a university-wide hate crime alert after the words “Long Live Zimmerman” were spray-painted on Hale Hall sometime either late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

The release, which was prompted by a sit-in at the Ohio Union condemning the incident, said that the phrase written on the west wall of Hale Hall was “racially motivated.”

Additionally, University police noted a second crime off campus near 12th Avenue and 4th Street, where a mural of President Barack Obama was vandalized.

Dear OSU Community Member:

You are receiving this notice because a hate crime has occurred that is considered to be of a concern and/or a continuing threat to the campus community and to heighten your safety awareness.

The purpose of his notice is to provide community members with information necessary to take appropriate precautions, enable you to protect yourself and to aid in the prevention of similar crimes.

Unless specifically stated, this notice does not mean there has been an increase in crime or that any specific crime pattern exists.