Israel-Hamas Demonstration at Ole Miss: Counter-Protester Mocks Black Student, Rep. Mike Collins Endorses
A demonstration at the University of Mississippi in support of Israel during its conflict with Hamas turned violent this week when a counter-protester made racist monkey noises and gestures towards a Black student.
The incident was endorsed on social media by Republican US Representative Mike Collins from Georgia.
The university community and beyond have criticized the behavior, and Collins has yet to explain or apologize for his endorsement.
A sociology professor at the University of Mississippi, James M.
Thomas, wrote about students calling for an end to genocide being met with racism during a protest.
Reverend Cornell William Brooks, a former NAACP president and Harvard professor, also addressed performative racism during protests.
Congressman Michael Collins, who was elected in 2022 and criticized campus protests on social media, was present at a University of Mississippi protest where hecklers outnumbered war protesters.
No arrests were made during the demonstration, but over 2,400 arrests have occurred at 46 US universities since April 17 during protests against the war.
Approximately 30 protesters, identifying as UMiss for Palestine, gathered on the University of Mississippi (UMiss) campus.
They protested near the main library, where they chanted "Free, free Palestine" and displayed Palestinian flags and signs with messages like "Stop the Genocide" and "US bombs take Palestine lives." Campus security erected barriers to contain the demonstration.
A video by student journalist Stacey J.
Spiehler showed campus police and the dean of students mediating between the protesters and hecklers.
A heated argument ensued between a Black woman protesting the war and several white hecklers.
One heckler made monkey gestures and noises towards the woman.
In the 2022-23 academic year, about 76% of the University of Mississippi's students were white, and approximately 11% were Black, according to the school's website.
Chancellor Glenn Boyce stated that the university supports freedom of expression but finds some campus statements made on Thursday offensive and unacceptable.
Republican Governor Tate Reeves shared a video on social media showing counter-protesters singing the "Star-Spangled Banner" on campus, expressing his love for Mississippi.
The university community and beyond have criticized the behavior, and Collins has yet to explain or apologize for his endorsement.
A sociology professor at the University of Mississippi, James M.
Thomas, wrote about students calling for an end to genocide being met with racism during a protest.
Reverend Cornell William Brooks, a former NAACP president and Harvard professor, also addressed performative racism during protests.
Congressman Michael Collins, who was elected in 2022 and criticized campus protests on social media, was present at a University of Mississippi protest where hecklers outnumbered war protesters.
No arrests were made during the demonstration, but over 2,400 arrests have occurred at 46 US universities since April 17 during protests against the war.
Approximately 30 protesters, identifying as UMiss for Palestine, gathered on the University of Mississippi (UMiss) campus.
They protested near the main library, where they chanted "Free, free Palestine" and displayed Palestinian flags and signs with messages like "Stop the Genocide" and "US bombs take Palestine lives." Campus security erected barriers to contain the demonstration.
A video by student journalist Stacey J.
Spiehler showed campus police and the dean of students mediating between the protesters and hecklers.
A heated argument ensued between a Black woman protesting the war and several white hecklers.
One heckler made monkey gestures and noises towards the woman.
In the 2022-23 academic year, about 76% of the University of Mississippi's students were white, and approximately 11% were Black, according to the school's website.
Chancellor Glenn Boyce stated that the university supports freedom of expression but finds some campus statements made on Thursday offensive and unacceptable.
Republican Governor Tate Reeves shared a video on social media showing counter-protesters singing the "Star-Spangled Banner" on campus, expressing his love for Mississippi.
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