UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI OFFICIALS INVESTIGATE STUDENT PROTEST AFTER OBAMA RE-ELECTION (1188 hits)

OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) -- School police say 400 students gathered at an intersection on campus some using racial slurs to protest the re-election of President Barack Obama.

Following Tuesday night's election there were hundreds of students at the intersection of Rebel Drive and Student Union.

According to university police, about a hundred of those were protesters, the other 400 were onlookers.

The problem apparently was the re-election of President Barack Obama.

There were students, they say, who did not like the results,and others who did.

What happened then was basically a glorified shouting match between both sides.

The police say the protest started in the Grove section of campus with only about 30 people but quickly spread to the intersection with the help of Twitter and social media.

Authorities say they got a tip and were there by the time the students arrived.

We talked to at least three students who saw it all who lived in dorms near the intersection.

"There were people calling each other names,and things like that .And police were trying to contain everything and then it got a little crazy. I heard that there was physical contact and I didn't see any. But you know just a lot of bad language and everything. Then police were telling everybody to go back to your room," said Ashley Kate Williams, a student who watched from her dorm room window.

University officials admit there were racial slurs used during the incident.

However, some students did not seem to think the incident was racially motivated.

"It was more of a Democrat versus Republican thing last night. It was not a black versus white thing at all. I honestly believe that and I'm African American and I watched it all happen. And so I can still say I don't think we have a race problem," said Romel Winford another student who was on hand when the shouting began.

"It made us all look really bad. And people were like thinking they were speaking for the whole school and like certain people do stuff like that and it gives the whole school a reputation," replied Carlee Woods, another student.

Police say there were no injuries during the incident and there were no fights.

There was no use of pepper spray they say although some students claim there was .

Two people were arrested, one for disorderly conduct and another for drunkenness.

University officials say students have planned an event for this evening on campus calling it "We Are One Mississippi." Posted By: Siebra Muhammad
Friday, November 9th 2012 at 6:29PM
You can also click here to view all posts by this author...