Colorado State Student Alleges He Was Spat On and Threatened While Chalk-Posting Bible Verses at Campus Protest

Blake Jones, a Catholic member of Colorado State University’s Turning Point USA chapter, says he was spat on and nearly struck while writing Bible verses in chalk on the Lory Student Center Plaza during a Nov. 19 campus protest.

According to Jones and students who accompanied him, the demonstration — organized by campus groups critical of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity and limits on diversity, equity and inclusion policies — included a mix of messages and counter-messages on the plaza. Jones says several religious chalk messages were altered earlier in the day, including changes from "abortion is murder" to "abortion is awesome" and edits turning "God loves you" into "God loves trans people." He also reported seeing a depiction of Jesus modified with transgender imagery drawn over a large cross.

"We were just going to write stuff in chalk and ask everyone why they were so for illegal immigration and so against ICE, as long as ICE is following the law," Jones said. "They never gave us fair answers — they just kept calling us racist and saying things like 'no one is illegal on stolen land.'"

Jones says the confrontation began when two students approached him while he was chalking. He recounts that one student used profanity, mocked his faith and then charged at him with fists raised; another student intervened and prevented a strike. Jones returned about ten minutes later to finish the verse and says the same student again confronted him, using insults and making a crude remark about his hat. While Jones knelt to continue chalking, he says the student spat on the back of his pants.

Sahara Bradley, a Turning Point member who accompanied Jones, corroborated his account and said she was mocked for her faith. Bradley said she and Jones later sat on the chalked cross to pray after the incident. Hannah Hines, the campus TPUSA outreach coordinator, also reported seeing religious messages chalked over after the protest.

Police response and investigation

Jones reported the spitting and the earlier assault attempt to campus police. He said it took about 25 minutes for an officer to arrive and that the records office later told him five of six nearby cameras were not functioning at the time. Colorado State University police have confirmed an active investigation into the reported incident.

Context and reactions

The Turning Point students said they did not know whether the alleged attacker was affiliated with any of the groups organizing the demonstration. Organizers named by attendees included Students for Justice in Palestine, the Young Democratic Socialists of America and other campus groups. Several students who witnessed or were involved in the exchange described feeling unsafe and called for respectful dialogue on campus.

The university has policies permitting chalking on the plaza as part of its free-expression rules. The investigation by campus police is ongoing; no formal determination about the alleged attacker’s identity or group affiliation has been released.