Earlier ought is month students at the University of Missouri protested a statute of Thomas Jefferson on their campus by labeling the memorial with sticky notes. Such students referred to him as a “racist rapist.” When other students stepped up to show their support for the Founding Father, some of those against Jefferson took on their own racist tone.
One Twitter user, @Kennedyxpress referred to a black girl who signed a petition supporting Jefferson’s legacy and who took a picture with the statue as #UncleTom. The Twitter account no longer exists, but the Mizzou College Republicans and YAF took a screenshot.
The girl in the picture also addressed it.
That would be me. And I can assure you that I am quite proud to be in that picture. #StandWithJefferson https://t.co/3f6e0Y3YUO
— Jasmine Wells (@all_that_jaz17) October 20, 2015
The racist tweet took place on Tuesday, when the Mizzou College Republicans decorated the statute in their own way, with an American flag and more positive sticky notes. Other members asked for petition to support the statute, while sharing some of Jefferson’s legacy.
Unlike their opponents however, they recognize all aspects of Jefferson’s legacy, but consider the good to outweigh the bad. They also realize that it would be unfair to hold Jefferson’s to today’s standards.
The Missourian talked to a senior, Zach Amos:
Other students chose to focus on his negative legacy, for instance Shelby Anderson.
Some students walked by without stopping. After being asked to sign, Shelby Anderson called over her shoulder, “I’d rather not. He raped my ancestors.”
Anderson said she signed the original petition to remove Jefferson’s statue. “It’s offensive to idealize and cherish someone who raped and owned slaves,” she said.
The petition started over two months ago to remove the statute has so far received 86 signatures out of the necessary 100. The College Republicans were able to gain 143 by Tuesday afternoon.
Other students also discussed Jefferson’s legacy on Twitter, as students shared their thoughts using #StandWithJefferson.
#StandWithJefferson because supporting a racist-slave owner’s statue is more important than combating systematic racism on our campus
— definitely not ellie (@ufo_grrl) October 20, 2015
Great time today with my fellow @MizzouCRs to stand AGAINST the removal of Jefferson’s statue. #Standwithjefferson pic.twitter.com/JXG01QMyh1
— Sydney C. Smith (@Sydneyc_Smith) October 21, 2015
It is amazing the support we’ve gotten after #StandWithJefferson. I am honored to be apart of it! Fight for what is right, not what is loud.
— Olivia Kohring (@pintoprise) October 21, 2015
The University of Missouri is particularly important to the legacy of Jefferson. The Louisiana Purchase, from when Jefferson was president, allowed for the creation of the University of Missouri, which is the first public university west of the Mississippi River.
