MISSISSIPPI
A federal judge sentenced a man who tied a rope around the neck of James Meredith statue on the Ole Miss Campus to six months in prison, officials announced today.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills of Mississippi also sentenced Graeme Phillip Harris to one year supervised release.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Feb. 16, 2014 at the University of Mississippi.
Court documents show that Harris and others hung a rope and an outdated version of the Georgia state flag—which prominently depicts the Confederate battle flag—around the neck of the Meredith statue, with the intent to threaten and intimidate African-American students and employees at the university.
The iconic statue honors Meredith’s role as the university’s first African-American student.
Harris was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 27 on one count of conspiracy to violate civil rights and one count of using a threat of force to intimidate African-American students because of their race or color.
On June 18, he plead guilty to the threats charge.
“Those who would use threats and intimidation to spread fear and hatred through our schools and workplaces should know that the Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute these cases,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division. “No one should have to endure threats or intimidation because of their race or the color of their skin.”
The investigation is ongoing.