Ole Miss Launches Investigation Into Racist Taunts At Anti-War Protest

The University of Mississippi has launched an investigation aftera student was accused of mocking a Black protestor by making monkey noises during an anti-war demonstration.

Ole Miss said it was looking into “actions that conveyed hostility and racist overtones” when demonstrators gathered on campus Thursday to protest U.S. support of Israel during the country’s ongoing war against Hamas.

Footage of racist abuse being directed at a pro-Palestine protester quickly spread online, with a GOP congressman even going as far as to endorse their actions. “Ole Miss taking care of business,” Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) wrote Friday on the social platform X. He has since acknowledged there was “potentially inappropriate behavior.”

The incident came amid a growing wave of demonstrations on university campuses around the country.

Videos of the confrontation showed a small group of students chanting “Free, free Palestine,” and carrying signs with slogans including “Stop the Genocide” and “U.S. bombs take Palestine lives.” A larger group of counter-protesters were filmed surrounding and yelling at the demonstrators. At one point, a white student is seen making monkey noises directed at a Black woman as others taunt and cheer.

On Friday, university Chancellor Glenn Boyce said that “university leaders are aware that some statements made were offensive, hurtful, and unacceptable,” and that the institution has launched an investigation into the conduct of one student.

“We are working to determine whether more cases are warranted,” he added. “To be clear, people who say horrible things to people because of who they are will not find shelter or comfort on this campus,” he said.

A fraternity member was kicked out of the organization after the