University of Utah investigates bizarre allegations of racist incident involving black student dormitory door soiled by KKK

[ad_1]

An allegation of racism, including complaints of students in KKK dresses and pooping on a black student door, prompted the University of Utah to investigate the allegations early in the New Year.

We are talking about generational trauma, and we have another generation of our students going through this, said Darlene McDonald, a vocal activist from Salt Lake City, of the latest allegations of racism at a Utah school.

McDonald’s has brought to light a series of racist incidents in recent months at Utah schools, from kindergarten to college. On December 19, 2021, university officials became aware of an Instagram post that states University of Utah students walked through residences in KKK uniforms and smeared poo on a door of black students.

The alleged incidents date back to the fall, and on September 1, 2021, a black student reported finding a paper towel with a brown substance on his doorknob. On October 2, 2021, in the same dormitory, a resident assistant reported hearing students in an elevator say that there were people dressed in white KKK-type clothes trying to recruit people.

University president Taylor Randall admits the school should have launched an investigation sooner after learning about the alleged incidents and said it would improve its internal communication process in the future.

The university says it has reviewed surveillance footage and questioned people in the dormitory since learning of the reported incidents, and has since turned the investigation over to the university police department.

In a statement, President Randall says in part: Acts like this instill fear and frustration in our hearts. This is the third incident reported in as many weeks and we understand that the community, especially our black students, is feeling exhausted, focused and disconnected. The university strongly condemns the KKK and white supremacy. We will continue to identify racist acts, investigate and hold perpetrators accountable.

The story continues

The statement they released gave me a lot of hope that they were taking this very seriously, it was very strong, it was very direct, they named him and they didn’t withhold anything, a McDonald said of the universities’ response.

Salt Lake City NAACP chairman Jeanetta Williams said the organization is working closely with police and the university as the investigation continues.

There are great concerns about what is going on and why it is happening, so we want to make sure that we protect our young people in particular and they don’t feel like they can’t go out in public without being harassed or intimidated or to be in schools without being intimidated, said Jeanetta Williams.

The university’s assistant director of communications, Rebecca Walsh, said the investigation was ongoing.

More news from our partners:

Washington man charged with hate crime after becoming involved in brawling his daughters over threatening black classmate and following him out of school

I don’t have the balls to do it | Ochocinco gets real about friend Antonio Brown on Pivot podcast

The former National Bank settles the federal redlining complaint. Accepts $ 27 Million in Loans from Qualified Black Applicants

[ad_2]