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

Viral footage of a University of Mississippi student appearing to mimic a monkey toward a Black woman who was part of pro-Palestinian protests has resulted in the school launching a probe into his actions.

The university said in a letter than it has opened a student conduct investigation after the protesters were met last week by actions that appeared to convey “hostility and racist overtones." The student who was filmed making the sounds and gestures has also been removed from his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters said in a statement.

The viral moment, which stirred widespread outrage and condemnation, took place Thursday on the school’s campus amid a tense exchange between a group of pro-Palestinian protesters and a much larger group of counterprotesters.

Videos shared to social media show about 30 pro-Palestinian protesters were demonstrating in a barricaded zone when they were surrounded by an estimated 200 counterprotesters. Some of them held American flags or Donald Trump flags, while others can be seen dressed in red, white, and blue.

But one video in particular shows the moment when the counterprotester amid a group of mostly other young white men can be seen appearing to imitate a monkey as the Black woman records.

Videos showed student making monkey-like gestures at Black woman

The pro-Palestinian protesters had gathered Thursday at the university's quad, joining demonstrations that have been spreading to college campuses around the nation as the civilian death toll in Gaza continues to rise amid the Israeli-Hamas war that began Oct. 7.

Several dozen students were peacefully evacuated from the University of Mississippi campus after more than 200 counter-protestors started to throw objects and shout at the protestors, the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. About 50 to 60 protestors had gathered for a demonstration before the event escalated with counter-protestors outnumbering the pro-Palestinian protestors.

As videos proliferated online, one in particular showing a Black woman confronting a group of white male counterprotesters yelling at each other quickly went viral. In it, a man imitates the sounds and movements of a monkey toward the woman, while others in the crowd can be heard chanting, "Lock her up!"

Trump, other right-wing leaders praise counterprotesters

Many Republicans and conservatives took to social media to thank the crowd of counterprotesters for confronting the pro-Palestine protesters.

Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) shared video of the confrontation last week on social media site X, saying it showed “Ole Miss taking care of business.”

Former President Donald Trump reposted a video of counter-protesters chanting on his official Instagram page along with the caption, “Thank you Ole Miss –– MAGA.”

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves initially came out with a statement on X before the protests began stating that peaceful protests are a constitutional right "no matter how outrageous those protesters views may seem to some of us." He later shared a video on his account praising the counterprotesters, saying, "Warms my heart. I love Mississippi!”

University opens investigation amid outcry

In a letter to students and faculty the next day, university Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce said that the university has launched an investigation into one student after it became "aware that some statements made were offensive, hurtful, and unacceptable."

The university will determine whether more cases are warranted, Boyce added.

"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," he added in the letter, provided Monday to USA TODAY. "People who say horrible things to people because of who they are will not find shelter or comfort on this campus

"It is one reason why we do not take this lightly and cannot let the unacceptable behavior of a few speak for our institution or define us," Boyce concluded. "We are a community of scholars committed to creating an academic experience that respects the dignity of each individual."

Student in video removed from Phi Delta Theta frat

In a statement on Saturday, the fraternity Phi Delta Theta said it removed a member from its Mississippi Alpha chapter at the school responsible for the "racist actions in the video," which it said are antithetical to its values.

Other student groups at the university also condemned the actions displayed in the viral video, along with the behavior of the counterprotesters as a whole.

“Yesterday, we observed a demonstration on our campus – a place for the expression of diverse viewpoints, protected by our constitutional First Amendment Rights,” the Ole Miss Associate Student Body said in a statement on Friday, which provided a list of resources available to students. “Yet, amidst this expression, unacceptable remarks were made that departed from our cherished values.”

The university's Black Student Union also released a statement expressing solidarity with the pro-Palestinian protesters, whom they described as "nonviolent demonstrators who were advocating for Palestine."

"The students were exercising their right under the First Amendment, while the counter-protesters were present with malicious intent as well as a prominent lack of knowledge on the situation at hand," the statement shared on Instagram said.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com