University of Mississippi students mocked a black protester with racist monkey noises and shouts of ‘Lizzo’ during an embarrassing confrontation with pro-Palestinian protesters.
Counterprotesters, predominantly white men, insulted the only woman during Thursday’s confrontation.
The protester was on the pro-Palestinian side of two opposing demonstrations when she was approached by rowdy pro-Israel protesters.
Video of the encounter was reposted by Republican Rep. Mike Collins, who appeared to sanction the ugly behavior by sharing it with the caption “Ole Miss taking care of business.”
The images show the woman filming while dozens of protesters shout at her: ‘Lizzo’ and ‘fuck you, fat**’.
University of Mississippi students mocked a black protester with racist monkey noises and shouts of ‘Lizzo’ during an embarrassing confrontation with pro-Palestinian protesters.
Counterprotesters, predominantly white and male, insulted the woman during Thursday’s confrontation, including this student in blue on the right who made monkey gestures.
The protester was on the pro-Palestine side at two dueling demonstrations when she was approached by rowdy pro-Israel protesters.
She defiantly gives them the finger and steps out from behind a barrier to film from closer.
As he approaches, the men, including a student dressed in a stars-and-stripes jumpsuit, continue yelling and yelling at him.
At one point, a security guard steps between her and the baying crowd and orders her to return to his side.
The camera pans to reveal a man in a blue shirt jumping up and down making monkey noises.
As they continue to scream, more security guards arrive to try to keep space between them.
Shouts of “lock her up” begin to echo throughout the courtyard as the woman is led in front of the smiling crowd.
“At Thursday’s demonstration on our campus, statements were made that were offensive and inappropriate,” a university spokesperson told TMZ.
“Any action that violates university policy will be responded to with appropriate measures.”
The protester stood her ground and filmed the barking crowd as they shouted insults about her weight.
A security guard intervened to try to prevent him from getting too close to the pro-Israel camp amid the hostilities.
The pro-Palestine protesters were eventually escorted from the venue after being outnumbered by rowdy counter-protesters.
The clash came as dozens of pro-Palestine protesters gathered to condemn the Israeli bombing of Gaza following the October 7 attacks.
The group demanded that the university be transparent about its ties to Israel and divest from companies that profited from its war against Hamas.
However, the activists quickly found themselves outnumbered by counter-protesters who shouted “terrorists” over their shouts of “Free Palestine.”
The altercation became so heated that the pro-Palestine protesters had to be escorted by police into a building before being bussed away.
Police confirmed that they managed to disperse the crowd without injuries or arrests.
The demonstration was just one of several that took place at universities across the country in recent weeks.
Gaza camps that sprang up at Columbia University in New York City, as well as at UCLA, were dispersed by police after students defied orders to leave.
An agreement still exists at the University of Chicago where students have issued lists of necessary supplies to allow them to continue camping.
The confrontation was the latest example of unrest following demonstrations of solidarity with Gaza on campuses. Pictured: California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers detain a protester while clearing a pro-Palestinian encampment after dispersal orders were given at UCLA on May 2, 2024.
Students illegally occupying Hamilton Hall at Columbia University were evicted by police on Tuesday.
Police officers detain a protester during a pro-Palestinian protest against the war in Gaza at Emory University on April 25, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Administrators at Rutgers University in New Jersey managed to reach an agreement to end a camp there after four days.
More than 2,000 protesters have been arrested at universities across the United States in recent weeks.
Demonstrations have emerged at more than 76 institutions, prompting the president to call on Americans to condemn the “alarming rise of anti-Semitism” on college campuses and elsewhere.