The Black college students
by two White students at the University of Mississippi making monkey gestures and sounds outside their apartment are speaking out after the incident went viral.
asserted
incident → make → apartment
The women said they were familiar with the stories of racism some faced at Ole Miss over the years — the school didn't allow its first Black student, James Meredith, until 1962, for instance — but they were not prepared for what they experienced last Friday.
asserted
they → say → what
Jakirya Metcalf, a freshman at Ole Miss, said she was in her apartment last Friday night when she saw the video on her Ring camera.
asserted
she → say → camera
"We actually went outside and tried to, like, approach them and get them to explain why they did that," Metcalf told "CBS Mornings."
asserted
Metcalf → go → Mornings
"One girl was like, 'I'm sorry we did that to four doors,'" Victoria Johnson, one of the roommates, said.
asserted
Johnson → do → roommates
"And mind you, we didn't see any one of those doors.
asserted
we → mind → doors
It was just ours that was targeted.
asserted
that → target → ?
And she was like, 'We didn't mean any harm.'"
asserted
We → mean → harm
Metcalf and Johnson said the first person seen on the video, Aliana Kunes, apologized.
asserted
person → say → video
But the second person, who made monkey sounds toward the camera, doubled down off-camera.
asserted
who → make → camera
"She continued to make the gestures after the girl was apologizing," Johnson said.
asserted
Johnson → continue → gestures
"I had said that I don't think they should go around because even if they go to other people's door and do that, I don't think they should do that because it's very disrespectful," Metcalf said.
asserted
Metcalf → say → that
Kunes apologized for her actions in a statement Tuesday.
asserted
Kunes → apologize → statement
"To the women I offended and to the Ole Miss community, I sincerely apologize," she wrote.
asserted
she → offend → community
"Before the incident on November 6, I never met the women involved and was unaware of their race, however, I recognize my actions were insensitive, inappropriate, and deeply harmful.
asserted
actions → meet → race
I would have never intentionally made those noises or gestures toward a person of color.
asserted
I → make → color
I have apologized to the women and I pray they will forgive me."
asserted
they → apologize → me
Kunes voluntarily withdrew from the university after issuing the statement Tuesday.
asserted
Kunes → withdraw → statement
When asked if she accepted Kunes' apology, Metcalf said she had mixed feelings.
asserted
she → ask → feelings
"I feel like no matter like who we are, or if she knew our race or not, but the gestures and the voices, I feel like it still was very disrespectful," she said.
asserted
she → feel → race
"I appreciate the apology, but I feel like it still doesn't change what happened on that Friday, because it's still hurtful and it's still devastating that someone would come to our camera and do that
asserted
someone → appreciate → that
," Kaiyden Caldwell, another of the roommates, told "CBS Mornings."
asserted
Caldwell → tell → Mornings
Johnson's mother, Chiquita Laó, said she was surprised to learn Kunes withdrew from the university after Kunes said she was harassed.
asserted
she → say → university
"I hate to hear that because you know the children are the future, but I feel like everybody needs to be accountable," Laó said.
asserted
Laó → hate → that
University officials said in a statement they are investigating the incident and have reached out to those targeted.
asserted
they → say → those
Metcalf, Caldwell and Johnson said they plan to stay at Ole Miss and said they won't let the incident ruin their time at the school.
asserted
incident → say → school
CBS News reached out to the two other women in the video but did not hear back.
asserted
News → reach → video
"I want people to be mindful of their actions now," Johnson said.
asserted
Johnson → want → actions
"So when people who would potentially experience the same situations to speak out and don't let things be swept under the rug, because this is a reality for us, and I feel like voices need to be heard."
asserted
voices → experience → us
The Aporia
