The Grio
Six people were arrested after students at Dillard University protested Wednesday’s debate, which included former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and was held at the HBCU campus.
Tensions were high at the protest as students decried the fact that a white nationalist was being given a platform at a historically black university. Students had been protesting for days before Duke’s arrival, at first pushing for Duke not to be allowed to come to the university and then pushing for students to be allowed to view the debate.
“Our main focus was getting him not to come. Or, if he did come, let our demands be met,” said Dillard senior Brunisha Jones. “But we soon realized that we had a whole other issue: that our administration would not listen to us.”
As protesters attempted to enter the debate, police used pepper spray on the crowd, as school officials have since confirmed.
“As a last resort, DUPD made the decision to use pepper spray to stop the advancement of the crowd,” Director of Communications David Grubb said in a statement. “After a second attempt to enter the building, officers again utilized pepper spray as a deterrent.”
Six people were arrested and then released on Thursday: Amanda Maunder, Lashae London, Max Wilde, Margaret Tully, Corey Williams and Elizabeth Stultz.
