Crowdfund for Student in Mississippi Racist Incident Raises Over $30K
A crowdfunding campaign for a student filmed making racist gestures at the University of Mississippi has raised over $30,000, with the organizer demanding she offer no apologies.
A crowdfunding campaign launched for one of the white students filmed making racist gestures and monkey noises outside a Black students' apartment at the University of Mississippi has raised over $30,000. According to Associated Press reports, the fundraiser on the GiveSendGo platform titled Standing with Lauren was organized by Tom Hennessy, who identified the student as Lauren Mayfield. Hennessy conditioned his financial support on the student refusing to apologize for her actions, writing on the donation page that the funds are intended to cover lost income and opportunities resulting from the public backlash.
Organizer's Stance and Controversy
The organizer explicitly stated on the platform that there should be no apologies, no claims of ignorance, and no surrender, adding that he reserves the right to cancel the fundraiser if Mayfield distances herself or apologizes. Hennessy declined to confirm to reporters whether he had been in contact with the student, while the Associated Press noted that the student has not publicly identified herself.
The incident occurred on November 6 outside an apartment rented by Black students at the university. Doorbell camera footage captured three white young women, with two of them making monkey noises and gestures. A third individual looked toward the camera but did not participate in the vocalizations or physical gestures. Alaina Conis, who acknowledged her involvement, subsequently issued an apology stating she did not know the residents or their race, calling her actions insensitive and deeply offensive. Conis has since left the university voluntarily, while institutional administrators continue their review.
Impact on Victims and University Response
The affected residents reported that the confrontation continued outside the camera's range and noted that while Conis apologized, the second involved student persisted with the offensive behavior. In an interview with CBS, resident Victoria Johnson described the ongoing distress as feeling like a slap in the face. University leadership strongly condemned the behavior, confirming that support services have been extended to the affected students.
