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College student wearing gorilla mask at Black Lives Matter protest arrested

Student charged with civil rights intimidation
College student wearing gorilla mask at Black Lives Matter protest arrested
Posted at 9:52 PM, Sep 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-30 08:46:19-04
A white Tennessee college student who wore a gorilla mask to a Black Lives Matter protest was arrested for what police called intimidating behavior.
 
East Tennessee University freshman Tristan Rettke carried rope, as well as a burlap sack with a Confederate flag on it, as he tried to pass out bananas, Time reports.
 
Rettke was reportedly taken away from the protest and charged with civil rights intimidation.
The incident happened while students protested the recent police shootings of black men in Tulsa and Charlotte at the hands of police. In the middle of the demonstration Rettke walked through the crowd of protestors.
 
At a press conference Wednesday, University President Brian Noland spoke out against Rettke’s actions, calling himself “offended” and “saddened” by the situation.
 
“We are exceptionally proud of the students who were peacefully participating in the event and the manner in which they exercised restraint, thoughtfulness and strength in the face of inappropriate and offensive behavior,” Noland said.