Nearly 3,000 Sept. 11 Memorial Flags Trashed At Occidental College

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Occidental College officials are investigating the removal of 2,997 memorial flags – one for each of the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001 -- that were later thrown in the garbage.

Occidental College Republican Club wrote on Facebook that they had planted the flags on campus Saturday night, but at midnight, vandals had crushed, snapped and thrown each flag in the garbage and had instead put up posters and flyers up "that shamed the victims of 9/11."

College officials say they don't know who is responsible for the vandalism, but are investigating and will take "appropriate disciplinary action." Anyone with information can share the information at conduct@oxy.edu.

"Vandalism or other acts that substantially interfere with the rights of others to engage in protected speech violate the College's Student Code of Conduct and the spirit of this institution," acting Dean of Students Erica O'Neal Howard said in a statement.