A student at the University of Mississippi, commonly referred to as Ole Miss, has been removed from a fraternity after a video went viral showing racist gestures towards a Black woman participating in a pro-Palestinian protest.
The Phi Delta Theta fraternity announced the removal of the individual, stating that such actions contradict the values of the fraternity.
While the student responsible was not named, the incident has sparked a student conduct investigation. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) identified the student as James “JP” Staples from the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
They also called for the expulsion of two other students from the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity for their involvement in racist actions.
The protest at Ole Miss was part of a larger trend of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses across the United States. The incident occurred amidst tensions between protesters and counterprotesters, with the latter taunting and racially abusing participants.
Lawmakers reacted to the incident, with some appearing to praise the counterprotesters, while others condemned the racism displayed. The university’s student government and administration acknowledged the offensive remarks made during the protest, emphasizing that such behavior does not reflect the values of the institution.
Chancellor Glenn Boyce addressed the incident, acknowledging the university’s history of racism and reaffirming their commitment to addressing such behavior. The university is conducting a student conduct investigation to determine further actions.