Tennessee man arrested for wearing a gorilla mask to a BLM event, carrying a rope and bananas

[davidn3600]

JOHNSON CITY, TENN. - A student at East Tennessee State University has been charged after disrupting a Black Lives Matter event on campus by wearing a gorilla mask, carrying around a rope and trying to hand out bananas.

According to WCYB, Tristan Rettke, a freshman at the school, is charged with one count of civil rights intimidation in connection with the incident Wednesday afternoon.

Video and photos from the scene showed Rettke's actions, which included walking up to protesters with a burlap sack that had a Confederate flag printed on it.

Rettke told officers he bought the rope, bananas and gorillas mask on Tuesday then went to Wednesday's protest "in attempt to provoke the protestors," a Johnson City Police Department report stated.

University officials released a statement saying they were "outraged" by Rettke's actions at the protest.

http://www.wbir.com/news/crime/etsu-student-charged-after-disrupting-black-lives-matter-protest-in-gorilla-mask/327530112

[oasis]

1. Hmmmm. I fear we haven't seen the last of this guy. nt

[MrWendel]

3. We will if he decides to approach...

the wrong protesters.

[duncang]

2. Wonder if dipshit donnie will hire him as his

AA outreach advisor?

[snort]

4. Why can't you people see and appreciate

his clearly superior genes? Hand me those calipers! Crikey, it really is lopsided!

[Midnight Writer]

5. Did anyone think for a second that his kid may be a Democrat? The Republican brand is strong.

Republicans are so associated with racism that whenever we see an overt racist act, we all think "Hmmm, Must be a Republican".

Now if we can just figure out WHY so many of our neighbors, friends, family, coworkers, citizens buy into this hateful ideology.

And how to change it.

[lame54]

6. Not even half a second

[geek tragedy]

16. No, this alt-right Neonazi special snowflake has Trumper written all over him nt

[jmowreader]

7. I think that's "former student"

[SeattleVet]

8. Oh, crap!

My father was an ETSU graduate. He attended at the end of WWII on his GI Bill (he was originally from East Tennessee).

The last job he held was a social worker in the NYC welfare department.

Not all ETSU students are like this 'deplorable'.

[Hekate]

9. He was arrested -- dare I say that's progress of a sort?

Now the little jerk has a record. His mama must be so proud.

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

10. To bad the protesters didn't go "Grapes of Wrath" on him.

In one scene, an interloper tries to start trouble at a labor camp dance. They preempt his trouble making then shrug their shoulders when the authorities arrive to quell the disturbance which never got started.

[melm00se]

11. My 1st thought

was this is 1st Amendment protected speech...right up until I read this alleged quote:

"in attempt to provoke the protestors,"

Sorry Charlie, if they can prove that, welcome to the "convicted of a crime" club.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

19. First Amendment

protected speech refers to criticism of the government, not slander, libel or what amounts to yelling "fire" in a crowded movie theater. It's the same as if he'd dressed as Hitler and walked into a synagogue with gas canisters..........

[m-lekktor]

12. I recommend not reading the "comments" wherever this story is posted online.

[Vogon_Glory]

13. The Irony Here Is That

when so many Germans immigrated to the southern US before and after the Civil War, they tended to be relatively liberal, anti-secession, and anti-slavery. Now, over 150 years after the guns of the Civil War, we see this sorry little piece of work wearing his gorilla mask.

[pintobean]

14. Here's the law he's accused of violating.

At first, I thought they just used the charge to get his stupid, racist ass out of there, but it looks like a legit charge.

T.P.I. -- CRIM. 30.02

CIVIL RIGHTS INTIMIDATION

Any person who commits the offense of intimidating others from exercising their civil rights is guilty of a crime.

For you to find the defendant guilty of this offense, the state must have proven beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the following essential elements:1

[Part A:

(1) that the defendant injured or threatened to injure or coerced another

person;

and

(2) that the defendant did so with the intent to unlawfully intimidate

another from the free exercise or enjoyment of ________________,2

a right or privilege secured by the constitution or laws of the state of

Tennessee.]

or

[Part B:

(1) that the defendant injured or threatened to injure or coerced another

person;

and

(2) that the defendant did so with the intent to unlawfully intimidate

another because that other person had exercised _____________,3

a right or privilege secured by the constitution or laws of the United

States or the constitution or laws of the state of Tennessee.]

or

[Part C:

(1) that the defendant damaged, destroyed or defaced any real or

personal property of another person;

and

(2) that the defendant did so with the intent to unlawfully intimidate

another from the exercise or enjoyment of ___________________,4

a right or privilege secured by the constitution or laws of the state of

Tennessee.]

or

[Part D:

(1) that the defendant damaged, destroyed or defaced any real or

personal property of another person;

and

(2) that the defendant did so with the intent to unlawfully intimidate

another because that other person exercised __________________,5

a right or privilege secured by the constitution or laws of the United

States or the constitution or laws of the state of Tennessee.]

"Intent" means that a person acts intentionally with respect to the nature of the conduct or to a result of the conduct when it is the person's conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result.6

"Coercion" means a threat, however communicated, to:

(A) commit any offense; or

(B) wrongfully accuse any person of any offense; or

(C) expose any person to hatred, contempt or ridicule; or

(D) harm the credit or business repute of any person; or

(E) take or withhold action as a public servant or cause a public servant

to take or withhold action.7

"Intimidate" means to make timid, make afraid, overawe; to force or deter with threats or violence.8 "Intimidation" means unlawful coercion, duress; putting in fear.9

"Property" means anything of value, including but not limited to [money] [real estate] [tangible or intangible personal property (including anything severed from land)] [library material] [contract rights] [chose-in-action] [interest in or claim to wealth] [credit] [admission or transportation tickets] [captured or domestic animals] [food and drink] [electric or other power].10

FOOTNOTES

1. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-309(b).

2. The trial judge should state the right(s) or privilege(s) alleged in the

indictment or fairly raised by the proof.

3. Id.

4. Id.

5. Id.

6. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-106(a)(18).

7. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-106(a)(3).

8. Webster's New World Dictionary (2nd College Ed.).

9. Black's Law Dictionary (5th Ed. 1979).

10. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-106(a)(28).

COMMENTS

1. Civil rights intimidation is a Class D felony. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-309(d).

2. It is a Class A misdemeanor for a person to wear a mask or disguise with the intent to violate Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-309(b).

3. A definition of real or personal property may be necessary depending on the circumstances.

http://www.tncrimlaw.com/TPI_Crim/30_02.htm

[geek tragedy]

15. Deplorable nt

[dembotoz]

17. shout out to the protesters who handled themselves really well

i think i would have gotten in the guys face but they showed more maturity than i have


alas

[Hassin Bin Sober]

18. It will be interesting to see if this charge sticks.

The guy is a racist asshole but I think strutting around in a gorilla mask acting a fool might be protected by the First Amendment.

When I first heard he had a rope I thought yeah a noose could be construed as a threat. The asshole had a banana on a rope/twine. Not really a noose.

The statute requires threats or coercion. I don't see how this is a threat.

Definitely a violation of campus guidelines that should result in expulsion. Some would argue the state can't restrict free speech on campus. I disagree. He should be tossed. Not sure if this is a criminal act that should result in jail.


The statute they are charging him with says:

(1) that the defendant injured or threatened to injure or coerced another

Or

(1) that the defendant damaged, destroyed or defaced any real or

personal property of another person;

"Coercion" means a threat, however communicated, to:

(A) commit any offense; or

(B) wrongfully accuse any person of any offense; or

(C) expose any person to hatred, contempt or ridicule; or

(D) harm the credit or business repute of any person; or

(E) take or withhold action as a public servant or cause a public servant

to take or withhold action.7

"Intimidate" means to make timid, make afraid, overawe; to force or deter with threats or violence.8 "Intimidation" means unlawful coercion, duress; putting in fear.9

"Property" means anything of value

[spanone]

20. fuck this racist stooge

[FigTree]

21. With a banana. nt

[bullwinkle428]

22. Looks like Martin Shkreli's slow-witted cousin.

[.99center]

23. Watching the reaction from the community tells ya everything

"He was cooperative, he was peaceful, it's just his behavior was causing people alarm"

The tone deaf, local news added some funny music into a clip of him harassing protesters while in the suit, I'm sure the protester that told the reporter he was holding back tears appreciates that...