College campuses across the United States were hit by a wave of pro-Donald Trump chalk over the weekend, in a political stunt that was quickly deemed “The Chalkening.”
The campaign, which was planned online by various Trump supporters, is inspired by events at Emory University, where statements supporting Trump’s presidential campaign were scrawled in chalk around campus. The chalk messages deeply upset some students, who claimed the (non-violent) messages made them feel unsafe, and led to demands that Emory administrators denounce Trump supporters. Similar incidents later occurred at the University of Michigan and the University of California, Santa Barbara, where chalk in favor of Trump, building a border wall, and halting Muslim immigration resulted in calls for a police investigation, administrative crackdown and more.
If the goal of critics was to halt pro-Trump chalkings, they have failed spectacularly. Starting April 1, Trump supporters began scrawling chalk drawings in support of Trump and his message all over the country, primarily on college campuses.
Photos of chalkings or similar decorations were quickly shared on social media:
The fad was egged on by the Southern collegiate website Old Row, which offered a $100 prize to whomever sent in the best illustration by the end of April 1. But the effort was so successful, they decided to extend the contest throughout the entire weekend.
Still getting so many #TheChalkening submissions, we are extending the bounty until tomorrow. Go chalk! #NYIT pic.twitter.com/sAAUQy8qEo
