A Student In A Gorilla Mask Just Handed Out Bananas At A BlackLivesMatter Protest
Peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters at East Tennessee State University were disrupted when a disgusting racist individual made the decision to join the protest in hopes of inciting a riot.
The racist in question, later identified by police as Tristan Retke, was standing barefoot alongside protesters while wearing overalls and a gorilla mask. Retke also had a rope with a noose tied around a bunch of bananas, which he was ever so generously handing out and a burlap sack which had a confederate flag with a marijuana leaf over the racist symbol. Apparently Retke enjoys taking a toke or two while he is attending Ku Klux Klan meetings.
One student at the protest, Trevor King, said, “I’ve never had someone to my face be disrespectful like that, so it was just new to me. It was hard for me to keep my calm, but everybody and the support that’s what kept me calm.” Numerous others felt similarly disrespected at Retke’s despicable behavior, but rather than engage with him the protesters called the police instead.
Choosing not to engage was the wisest option the protesters could have chose, as Retke later admitted to police his idiotic goal was to “provoke” the protesters and to incite a riot. Retke’s hopes of inciting violence, so he could prove a point that Black Lives Matter protesters are violent, were ignorant and baseless.
The administration of East Tennessee State University issued a statement on their Facebook page which in part reads:
Earlier today during a student-led Black Lives Matter event at Borchuck Plaza, our campus community was outraged by the behavior of one student who confronted the participants. The actions of this one individual go against the values of our university where people come first and all are treated with dignity and respect.
After being questioned by police Tristan Retke was arrested for “civil rights intimidation”, which can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony in the state of Tennessee. The law, 39-17-309, specifically states:
(b) A person commits the offense of intimidating others from exercising civil rights who:
(1) Injures or threatens to injure or coerces another person with the intent to unlawfully intimidate another from the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured by the constitution or laws of the state of Tennessee;
(2) Injures or threatens to injure or coerces another person with the intent to unlawfully intimidate another because that other exercised any right or privilege secured by the constitution or laws of the United States or the constitution or laws of the state of Tennessee;
(3) Damages, destroys or defaces any real or personal property of another person with the intent to unlawfully intimidate another from the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured by the constitution or laws of the state of Tennessee; or
(4) Damages, destroys or defaces any real or personal property of another person with the intent to unlawfully intimidate another because that other exercised any right or privilege secured by the constitution or laws of the United States or the constitution or laws of the state of Tennessee.
(c) It is an offense for a person to wear a mask or disguise with the intent to violate subsection (b).
(d) A violation of subsection (b) is a Class D felony. A violation of subsection (c) is a Class A misdemeanor.
(e) The penalties provided in this section for intimidating others from exercising civil rights do not preclude victims from seeking any other remedies, criminal or civil, otherwise available under law.
At this time it is unclear how prosecutors will deal with Retke, as he was violating the law in two ways. First by admitting to police he was hoping to incite a riot which was intimidating protesters with his behavior, and second by wearing a mask while intimidating protesters. It is legally possible for Retke to be charged with both a misdemeanor and a felony for the same charge, and many tears will surely be shed for this nefarious individual if the book were indeed to be thrown at him. However, for the time being, Retke can have some time for quiet reflection and solitude while he sits in the local jail waiting to be processed.
One participant in the protest captured video of the incident. Feel free to view it below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjn0QOQf2S4
