Black students who were harassed by two white University of Mississippi students making monkey gestures and sounds outside their apartment are speaking out after the incident went viral.
The women said they knew the stories of racism some have faced at Ole Miss over the years — the school didn’t admit its first black student, James Meredith, until 1962, for example — but they weren’t prepared for what they experienced last Friday.
Jakirya Metcalf, a freshman at Ole Miss, said she was in her apartment last Friday night when she saw the video of her. Ring camera.
“We actually went outside and tried to approach them and ask them to explain why they did this,” Metcalf told “CBS Mornings.”
“One girl said to me, ‘I’m sorry I did that four doors down,'” said Victoria Johnson, one of the roommates. “And mind you, we didn’t see any of those doors. It was just ours that was targeted. And she said, ‘We meant no harm.'”
CBS News 
Metcalf and Johnson said the first person seen in the video, Aliana Kunes, apologized. But the second person, who made monkey noises toward the camera, doubled down off-camera.
“She continued to make these gestures after the girl apologized,” Johnson said. “It was like a slap in the face.”
“I had said I don’t think they should be walking around because even if they go to other people’s doors and do that, I don’t think they should do it because it’s very disrespectful,” Metcalf said.
Kunes apologized for her actions in a statement Tuesday.
“To the women I offended and to the Ole Miss community, I sincerely apologize,” she wrote. “Prior to the November 6 incident, I had never met the women involved and was unaware of their race. However, I recognize that my actions were insensitive, inappropriate and deeply harmful. I would never intentionally make these noises or gestures toward a person of color. I have apologized to the women and pray that they forgive me.”
Kunes voluntarily withdrew from the university after releasing a statement Tuesday.
When asked if she accepted Kunes’ apology, Metcalf said she had mixed feelings.
“I feel like it doesn’t matter who we are, or whether or not she knew our race, but the gestures and the voices, I feel like it was still very disrespectful,” she said.
“I appreciate the apology, but I feel like it still doesn’t change what happened that Friday, because it’s still hurtful and it’s still devastating that someone would come on camera and do that,” Kaiyden Caldwell, another of the roommates, told “CBS Mornings.”
Johnson’s mother, Chiquita Laó, said she was surprised to learn that Kunes had withdrawn from the university after Kunes said she had been harassed.
“I hate to hear this because you know children are the future, but I feel like everyone needs to be held accountable,” Laó said.
University officials said in a statement that they were investigating the incident and had spoken with those targeted.
“The university has and will continue to provide care and resources to our students,” the school said in a statement Wednesday. “We have met with affected students and their families to offer support and discuss relevant processes, and the investigation is moving forward. Student privacy laws prohibit the university from commenting on any individual student, including any potential disciplinary action.”
Metcalf, Caldwell and Johnson said they plan to stay at Ole Miss and won’t let the incident ruin their time at the school.
CBS News reached out to the two other women in the video but has not heard back.
“I want people to be aware of their actions now,” Johnson said. “So when people who might be going through the same situations speak out and don’t let things be swept under the rug, because it’s a reality for us, and I feel like the voices need to be heard.”
Gn headline
