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Cuomo directs NY State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist UB investigate graffiti incident

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BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — Governor Andrew Cuomo is directing the New York State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to help University at Buffalo Police investigate anti-Semitic and homophobic slurs on campus.

The hateful graffiti was discovered in a bathroom stall on the university's North Campus, according to The Spectrum, the UB student newspaper that first reported the story.

"In New York, there is no place for hate, and we will continue to rise up and condemn every cowardly act, anywhere it appears that targets and threatens people because of their race, religion or sexual orientation," Cuomo said in a written statement Friday night.

University at Buffalo officials say immediately after the graffiti was reported to police, it was removed by a facilities crew.

"Racist and discriminatory behaviors and conduct have no place at the University at Buffalo and will not be tolerated. Whenever acts motivated by hatred or discrimination occur, the university will respond promptly to protect the safety and well-being of the entire university community," a university spokesman said in a statement.

University officials are calling this a "random act" and that incidents like this are "rare" on UB's campus.

UB is not the only college in the state dealing with hateful speech and graffiti. At Syracuse University, students have been protesting for more than a week over SU's handling of numerous incidents of hateful graffiti and racist and anti-Semitic verbal attacks.