× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Three University of Virginia police officers are on paid administrative leave, accused of yelling “Make America Great Again!” into the intercom system of their vehicles early Wednesday morning.

The officers allegedly yelled the slogan — used by President-elect Donald Trump during his campaign — at student passersby not long after Trump’s electoral victory had become apparent.

U.Va. Police Chief Michael Gibson wrote that he was “disappointed” by the reports and that the department is investigating the matter in a statement Thursday afternoon.

The incident was one of the issues that prompted a protest of Friday afternoon’s scheduled Board of Visitors meeting at the Rotunda, which was supposed to cover issues related to financial aid and affordability.

The protesters called for the officers to be fired. Some also demanded the university defund the police force.

After Rector William H. Goodwin asked them to leave — to keep from filling the building to capacity, he said — the students stood outside and chanted “No justice, no peace, no racist police!”