A new YouTube video purports to show a black female employee of San Francisco State University grabbing and pulling a white male student during an argument over “cultural appropriation” sparked by the student’s dreadlocks.
However, much of the information about the incident spreading online appears to be inaccurate.
Conservative-leaning news blogs have written about the video, claiming criminal charges were filed. At least a one outlet published the alleged name of the woman in the video, which the Daily Dot could not confirm, after it appeared on 4chan and Twitter. The video also appeared on the front page of Reddit on Tuesday morning.
Most of the comments regarding the incident condemn the woman’s actions, while many call for retribution against the woman.
An SFSU spokesman denies that the individual is a university employee, contradicting the YouTube video’s title. A school representative said the incident is under investigation.
“We are aware of the video made of an incident which occurred on campus yesterday afternoon,” Jonathan Morales, the director of news and new media at SFSU, told the Daily Dot. “University police were called to the scene of the incident when it occurred. The two individuals involved in the incident are not San Francisco State University employees. Further, no criminal charges have been pressed at this time, to the University’s knowledge.”
While the original video has been deleted, a new version includes the full original footage and an interview with the white student, identified as 22-year-old Cory Goldstein, about the incident.
“San Francisco State University promotes the rights of the campus community to engage in free speech,” Morales added, “but does not condone behavior that impedes the safety or well-being of others. ”
Update 12:05pm CT, March 30: Added new video.
Screengrab via YouTube