Racial insults, provocations taunt pro-Palestine protests; no arrests
5 Min Read
Counter-protesters at the University of Mississippi threw objects at pro-Palestinian protesters while shouting derogatory, racially charged insults, including monkey noises directed at a Black woman.
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Counter-protesters at the University of Mississippi (X)
Scores of the University of Mississippi students assembled this week to demonstrate against the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza and to demand transparency from the state's premier university regarding any engagements with "Israel".
Meanwhile, stood there facing the pro-Palestinian demonstrators, reminiscent of the resistance faced during the civil rights movement in the southern United States six decades ago.
Among the counter-protesters were individuals displaying American flags and banners supporting former President Trump. They sang the national anthem, overpowering the chants of the pro-Palestinian group. According to reports from the Oxford Eagle, one person carried a "Come and take it" flag while another waved a "Don't tread on me" banner. Meanwhile, the pro-Palestinian students held signs with messages such as "Jesus was a Palestinian," "Stop the genocide", and "Cut all ties with Israel."
All student protestors are brave, but the protestors I saw at the University of Mississippi today are on a whole other level given the climate here. Unbelievable courage from these young people. https://t.co/a5iefIerR2
— Dr. Emily Pitts Donahoe (@EmPittsDonahoe) May 2, 2024
Less than an hour after the demonstration commenced, law enforcement intervened and dispersed the crowd, particularly following incidents where pro-"Israel" counter-protesters hurled objects, including water bottles, at the pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
Police monitored the departure of the pro-Palestinian students as the white, male group of counter-protesters chanted, "Nah, nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, hey, goodbye," as reported by Mississippi Today.
Counter-protesters hurl racist insults at Black woman
It is worth noting that university administrators and politicians across the United States have employed the term "outside agitator" to undermine and discredit pro-Palestinian student-led protests and movements. This label, reminiscent of its frequent use during the civil rights movement and earlier historical periods, such as antebellum slavery and labor movements in the 19th and 20th centuries, suggests that protesters are not driven by their own convictions but by external influences.
This Zionist outside agitator was filmed carrying out at least 5 acts of assault and battery. He even conducted a local LA news interview in the midst of his rampage. And unlike peaceful student protesters, he’s not in police custody and everyone is still seeking his identity. https://t.co/ceBHYDbHrb
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) May 5, 2024
A gang of wild, uncouth, vile, white supremacist, thugs at the University of Mississippi singled out a Black female student protester, spewed racial epithets and other pejoratives, chanted “Lizzo“ and made monkey noises. This is the white male in America. pic.twitter.com/ISN9OMSJiU
— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) May 4, 2024
While no arrests were made, the behavior of the counter-protesters has sparked condemnation on social media. They were heard shouting derogatory phrases, such as "F*** Joe Biden," "Who's your daddy?," "USA," and "Hit the showers," and directing racially charged insults, including monkey noises, at a Black woman.
Rep. Mike Collins, R-Georgia, praises a video showing a University of Mississippi frat boy dancing like a monkey and making monkey noises near a Black woman student who was protesting for Palestine while other frat boys chant "lock her up." https://t.co/Gfg4ZtqDqC
— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) May 3, 2024
It is worth noting that United States Congressman Mike Collins openly praised the verbal assault of the Black woman by the University of Mississippi counter-protesters in a post on X.
On its part, the University of Mississippi's NAACP chapter issued a statement on Instagram condemning the actions of the counter-protesters.
“The behavior witnessed today was not only abhorrent but also entirely unacceptable,” the statement read. “It is deeply disheartening to witness such blatant disregard for the principles of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.”
History repeating itself! 'I would like to be on the right side'
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, who recently designated April as Confederate Heritage Month and April 29 as Confederate Memorial Day, praised the counter-protesters in a tweet, The Guardian reported. Some observers noted similarities between Reeves' tweet and the actions of former Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett, known for his support of segregation.
In the tweet, Reeves shared a video of the counter-protesters singing the American national anthem, stating that it warmed his heart and expressing his love for Mississippi.
The ‘protests’ at Ole Miss today. Watch with sound.
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) May 2, 2024
Warms my heart.
I love Mississippi!
pic.twitter.com/79QEJra2nM
In September 1962, Barnett addressed a crowd of over 40,000 people at a University of Mississippi football game, where Confederate flags were prominent. He expressed his love for Mississippi, its people, customs, and heritage. The following day, a campus insurrection occurred as James Meredith enrolled, becoming the University's first documented Black student.
Before the protest, Reeves also echoed a statement made by Joe Biden earlier that day in a separate tweet. “Campus police, city, county, and state assets are being deployed and coordinated,” Reeves tweeted. “We will offer a unified response with one mission: peaceful protests are allowed and protected – no matter how outrageous those protesters’ views may seem to some of us. However unlawful behavior will not be tolerated. It will be dealt with accordingly. Law and order will be maintained!”
UMiss for Palestine, the student group behind the protest, posted a statement on Instagram after the demonstration. They accused the University of Mississippi of hosting US military officials involved in the ongoing genocide of Palestinians through an aerospace and defense conference.
“Our vocal protest outside the library was a peaceful demonstration of our dismay with the behaviour of the university,” the statement continues.
“We were confronted by counter-protesters who engaged in blind reactionarism that had little to do with the genocide we were protesting as well as our demands. We condemn the hateful actions and rhetoric of the counter protesters, who threw food and made violent threats toward our protesters. We expected our first amendment rights to be better protected and were deeply ashamed that they were not.”
The Daily Mississippian, the University of Mississippi student newspaper, interviewed students who expressed their support for UMiss for Palestine's initiatives. Among them, junior Xavier Black stated, “There’s a lot of dissension towards this kind of movement.”
“But as we’ve seen throughout history, time and time again, the student movement is never wrong,” he told the paper. “Time and time again, anytime there’s a student protest, and you’re against it, you’re on the wrong side of history. So I would like to be on the right side.”
Read more: Police crackdown continues against pro-Palestine students in the US
