OXFORD, MISS– Ole Miss students gathered in the Lyceum in an occupation protest over the university’s response to racist comments on Facebook. After a couple of hours of demonstration and discussion, protest and university leaders dismissed with the promise that these comments would be further investigated and a decision would be made.
According to the Daily Mississippian, the University of Mississippi student paper, the peaceful protest began this afternoon as a reaction to Chancellor Vitter’s response to racist Facebook comments.
LIVE on #Periscope: #OccupytheLyceum https://t.co/Y5456cxOtg
— Daily Mississippian (@thedm_news) September 23, 2016
Chancellor Vitter released a statement regarding a racist comment allegedly made by Jordan Samson as a response to a post originated by student Andrew Soper. Samson posted about lynching protesters, according to tweets by Shaun King with the New York Daily News (@shaun_king) and the university.
“The university and I are aware of recent comments made on social media that have generated concern by members of the Ole Miss community,” said Vitter. “Some social media comments suggest or condone actions that are inconsistent with our core values.”
Students have taken issue with the statement “Let’s be respectful and civil in our discourse.”
The Ole Miss branch of the NAACP is heading the protest, with over 100 students in attendance.
The Associate Student Body has released a statement addressing the racist social media posts by UM students #OccupyTheLycuem pic.twitter.com/Ks8xXNrq7s
— Daily Mississippian (@thedm_news) September 23, 2016
The Daily Mississippian has reported that the chancellor, students, and administration are meeting in regards to the student’s demands.
Here is the start of what Dom Scott, Allen Coon & Makala McNeil (UM NAACP) are drafting to give to Vice Chancellor LaBanc pic.twitter.com/qvgXJWl3on
— Daily Mississippian (@thedm_news) September 23, 2016
This is a developing story. News Mississippi will continue to update.
