At the University of Mississippi, tensions escalated during demonstrations surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict, with one counter-protester resorting to racist gestures and noises towards a Black student. The incident, captured on video, drew condemnation from both on and off campus.
Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins from Georgia seemed to endorse the disturbing behavior by sharing a video of the incident on social media with the caption “Ole Miss taking care of business.” However, he did not immediately respond to requests for clarification.
Congressman praises heckling of war protesters (Credits: ABC Chicago)
Critics decried the incident as an example of racism overshadowing the legitimate calls for action against genocide. Professor James M. Thomas of the University of Mississippi characterized the situation as students advocating for change being met with racism.
Former NAACP president Rev. Cornell William Brooks condemned the racist actions, emphasizing that such behavior had no place in the context of protests about the Israel-Hamas conflict. He described the mocking of a Black woman as a monkey as “performative racism.”
Collins, who has been critical of campus protests in the past, has yet to address the specific incident at the University of Mississippi.
Despite the volatile atmosphere, no arrests were made during the demonstration, which saw a large number of hecklers outnumbering the war protesters. Demonstrations against the war have led to over 2,400 arrests across 46 university campuses in the United States since April 17.
Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (Credits: The Times of Israel)
The University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce emphasized the institution’s commitment to free expression but condemned the offensive behavior witnessed during the protests. He announced that a student conduct investigation had been initiated, signaling that such actions would not be tolerated on campus.
In response to the incident, Governor Tate Reeves shared a video on social media showing counter-protesters singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” on campus, expressing his pride in Mississippi.
