The University of Mississippi has initiated a student conduct investigation in response to an incident involving hostility and racist overtones during a recent demonstration on campus.
On Thursday, a group of approximately 30 pro-Palestinian protesters were holding a demonstration within a barricaded zone on campus when they were surrounded by an estimated 200 counterprotesters. The counterprotesters were seen carrying American flags, Trump flags, and dressed in red, white, and blue attire.
Multiple videos circulating online captured the events of the protest, with one video in particular showing a group of mostly young White men in the counterprotest shouting at a Black woman. In the video, at least one counterprotester can be seen making gestures that appear to be simulating a monkey at the woman.
Jaylin R. Smith, a 24-year-old journalism and new media graduate student, shared her experience of the incident, stating, 'One thing that will never break me is people taunting me or making monkey noises at me.'
The video footage shows a large group of counterprotesters yelling at Smith as she approached them while holding her phone. Law enforcement officers can be seen directing her to return to where other pro-Palestinian protesters were gathered. In the video, Smith is heard repeatedly stating, 'I'm not so peaceful,' as police guide her away from the counterprotesters.
