NAACP leaders at Ole Miss call for expulsion of 3 counter protestors after racist taunts

OXFORD — The NAACP chapter at the University of Mississippi called for the expulsion of three students who were among the many counter protestors at a Thursday rally protesting Israel's war in Gaza.

More than 150 attendees listened at a packed and emotional town hall Monday night as campus NAACP leadership spoke out against racist actions from some counter protestors during last week's pro-Palestine protest. Ole Miss leaders have called some of the counter protest actions "hurtful" and "offensive" and have announced an investigation into the incident, where items and threats were also hurled at some of the protestors.

One counter protestor has drawn national notoriety for appearing to mimic a monkey when countering a Black Mississippi student. That counter protester was removed from his fraternity on Friday.

"For the events last week to become national news is very disheartening," UM NAACP Vice President Justice Rose said of the behavior seen by counter protesters last week. "It's unfortunate, because those ideals really do live here in campus. People want to attribute this to mob mentality, but a lot of students found solidarity in hate."

UM NAACP President Meghan Curry said the organization is also looking into other counter protestors who are students at Ole Miss, but she declined to disclose specific information relating to those students.

She is also recommending that anyone with evidence of misconduct from the Thursday protest turn it in and also inform UM NAACP so they can identify others. Curry also asked for increased education about racial issues.

What happened during the protest?

On Thursday, what began as a mid-day pro-Palestine protest with a few students quickly grew to include more than 40 people by about 1:30 p.m. At the same time, about 200 counter protestors, passersby and others had gathered around the group of students, faculty and at least one Oxford resident. Counter protestors were shown yelling, waiving conservative and pro-Israel symbols as flags, throwing garbage and hurling insults.

Read live coverage of protest Ole Miss students evacuated off campus after pro-Palestine protest escalated

As Race Davis, a student protestor from Tupelo, put it, the situation became unsettling shortly before the person standing right next to him was struck in the head by a meat ball.

"There were things like that happening that were definitely very startling (to see) that people would feel the need to do something like that either because they thought it was funny or because they were so enraged themselves in opposition," Davis said.

At one point, University Police Department officers had to move students inside the Applied Sciences building to avoid further confrontations and eventually bussed protestors off campus. A student journalist who covered the protest, Stacey Spiehler, said she watched as counter protestors screamed and jeered as they followed the smaller group into the building.

"I like to attend sports games, and so I've seen happy mobs and I've seen celebratory mobs," Spiehler said. "I have never in my life seen a mob of people who were just so angry at the protesters, and obviously the protesters are super angry as well."

Spiehler also said many counter protestors were also pushing America First and other political stances from Republican public figures throughout the country.

One Black student protestor, Jaylin R. Smith, was recorded by Spiehler being mocked by another student, James Staples, who was imitating a monkey and making sounds at her. Others, according to Davis, also compared her appearance to famous popstar Lizzo, but in a derogatory fashion. Staples was later kicked out of his fraternity.

"Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters is aware of the video regarding the student protest at the University of Mississippi," a statement read. "The racist actions in the video were those of an individual and are antithetical to the values of Phi Delta Theta and the Mississippi Alpha chapter. The responsible individual was removed from membership on Friday, May 3."

That incident in particular, as well as several others where students were allegedly hurling racial slurs and issuing threats at protestors, has spurred a campus investigation by Chancellor Glenn Boyce and the University Police Department.

Ole Miss protest investigation: Ole Miss investigates 'racist overtones' as Black student taunted at pro-Palestine protest

"University leaders are aware that some statements made were offensive, hurtful, and unacceptable," Boyce said in a statement issued to students, faculty and staff after the protest. "We are working to determine whether more cases are warranted. Behaviors and comments that demean people because of their race or ethnicity marginalize them and undermine the values that are fundamental to a civil and safe society."

The NAACP identified three counter protestors who it alleged were antagonizing protestors. In addition to Staples, the NAACP chapter identified two members they said used racist taunts and were from the Kappa Alpha fraternity.

The NAACP did not levy specific allegations against the other two but called for the university expulsion of all three.

"The chancellor said that individuals who display this kind of behavior will not find comfort or shelter on this campus," Chapter President Meghan Curry said Monday night. "We hope Chancellor Boyce stands on business."

Students and campus officials weren't the only ones to voice opinions about the Thursday protest.

That morning, Gov. Tate Reeves posted on Facebook that he and local law enforcement were aware of the event. Reeves posted again with a video of counter protestors singing the national anthem. Former President Donald Trump reposted some of those comments made by Reeves.

"Campus police, City, County, and State assets are being deployed and coordinated. We will offer a unified response with one mission: Peaceful protests are allowed and protected — no matter how outrageous those protesters (sic) views may seem to some of us. But unlawful behavior will not be tolerated. It will be dealt with accordingly."

Georgia lawmaker Mike Collins even praised the counter protestors at Ole Miss.

"Ole Miss taking care of business," Collins wrote on Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Georgia NAACP termed Collins' comments "seriously unacceptable" and the national branch of the NAACP is now calling for an Ethics Committee investigation.

What happens next?

During the meeting, UM NAACP leadership and UM For Palestine also called for more diversity, equity and inclusion education at Ole Miss.

Curry said that by expanding those programs won't fix systemic issues such as racism, but they could steer some of those individuals away from beliefs that lead to the behavior seen Thursday afternoon.

"I don't think that any amount of education can influence somebody's will or right to be ignorant and display nasty behavior," Curry said. "We hope that by having all those resources in place that we would at least teach students some sort of history because we are present in it. You can't ignore our history."

UM for Palestine member Zynub Al-Sherri added that the university should divulge to the public if there are any university investments made into companies that manufacture weapons used in the war in Palestine.

Boyce was not available by time of publication to discuss the UPD investigation or town hall.

Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: NAACP demands change after racist counter protest at Ole Miss