A recent protest at the University of Mississippi took a disturbing turn when a group of white students taunted a Black student, with one individual making racist monkey noises and gestures.
The incident was captured on video and shared online, which was met with widespread condemnation. However, some individuals, including Republican lawmaker Rep. Mike Collins, applauded the behavior, with Collins posting “Ole Miss taking care of business” on social media platform X.
The video shows a white student imitating a monkey’s howl and jumping up and down while police escort away a Black female graduate student. The crowd of white students can be seen cheering, clapping, and yelling, with some flipping off the camera. The incident has been widely criticized, with many denouncing the racist actions of the students.
GOP Rep. praises protest hecklers (Credits: mynbc15.com)
The protest was initially organized by pro-Palestinian students calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza and an end to US weapons supplies to Israel. However, they were met with a large crowd of counter-protesters, estimated to be around 200 people, who shouted and sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” to drown out the pro-Palestinian chants.
University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce has condemned the incident, stating that some statements made were “offensive, hurtful, and unacceptable, including actions that conveyed hostility and racist overtones.” An investigation into one student’s conduct has been opened, but the individual’s name cannot be disclosed due to privacy laws.
‘Ole Miss student’ uses shocking racist taunt at Black woman (Credits: The Independent)
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many criticizing the university and state officials for not doing enough to address the racist behavior. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves and former President Trump have also been criticized for praising the counter-protesters, with Trump releasing a campaign ad that highlighted clips from the Mississippi protest, as well as a similar incident at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
The incident has raised concerns about the prevalence of racism on college campuses and the need for greater action to address it. The University of Mississippi has a complicated history, with a legacy of racism and discrimination that continues to impact the campus community today.
As Chancellor Boyce acknowledged, “incidents like this can set us back,” and the university needs to take a strong stance against racism and discrimination in all its forms.
