#MIZZOU

The University of Missouri was put on high alert after threatening posts were found on popular anonymous college social media site Yik Yak. These posts alluded to a possible anti-black motivated shooting or attack.

These threats were seen and shared by hundreds of students across the campus. They caused many students alarm. Fearing for their safety, many students had to make the choice whether or not to go to class on the day the threats were made. By not putting up a united front, the faculty only further perpetuated the problem. Professors debated on whether or not to take action with the police. Some professors said that the posts were jokes, while other professors took the posts more seriously. Many students tried not to come to class, and posted their professors’ responses on social media, noting an overall lack of sympathy for their unique predicaments.  In the end, no police action was taken about the threats, which turned out to be a big mistake.

A few days later, there were reports of white students in pick-up trucks en-circling black students and blocking them from leaving the campus parking lots. Along with trapping the black students in the lot, the students in the trucks also screamed out racial slurs and various threats. There were even reports of KKK member sightings, although this is still a rumor. Fortunately, no one was injured, although many left the parking lot shaken, and took to social media to tell their stories….

While under this oppression, the african american students of Mizzou made their story widespread, hoping that the nation would hear their plight. Many of the african american students and allies rallied together at this attack on their freedom. The taglin #Mizzou became a rallying cry for Historically Black colleges and universities as well as public, private, and state schools Across the nation, people pledged their support, and stated that they “stood with mizzou.”

Authorities have now found three of the alleged Yik Yak posters. All three posters are white, male, nineteen-year-olds, and two of the three are current students of the University of Missouri; their names are Hunter Park, Connor Stottlemyre, and Tyler Bradenberg. All three were charged with threats of terrorism. While these threats and displays of aggression were meant to silence a people group determined to maintain their freedom to education, it only succeeded in making them stronger than ever

Written by Zoe Jones

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