Kyle Perisic, Nov 08, 2017

-- The Black Student Union at Kansas State University is demanding that police file charges against a black man who painted his own car with racist graffiti and then filed a false police report.

-- The Riley County Police Department elected not to charge Dauntarius Williams with filing a false report, saying it would "not be in the best interests of the citizens."

On November 1, the Riley County Police Department reported that the vehicle was defaced with racist graffiti and a threat, and KSU student Andrew Hammond tweeted a photo of the damage.

The incident quickly prompted the Kansas State University to increase security on campus and the FBI opened up a civil rights investigation, but the investigation concluded after Williams admitted that he was responsible for the graffiti and apologized for his actions.

“I would like to deeply apologize to the community. The whole situation got out of hand when it shouldn’t have even started,” he said. “It was just a Halloween prank that got out of hand. I wish I could go back to that night but I can’t. I just want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for the pain and news I have brought you all.”

The police decided not to charge him with filing a false report, saying it would “not be in the best interests of the citizens” who reside in the local community.

“For his part, Williams was genuinely remorseful and expressed sincere regret that his actions had resulted in the negative media attention that resulted,” the Riley County Police said in a press release, noting that Williams has had “a series of conversations” with Riley County Police Department Director Brad Schoen and Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson.

Although Schoen acknowledged that Williams’ actions "had a decidedly negative impact on the community,” he pleaded for the community to “recognize that he, like many of us when we were young, is a young man who made a mistake and is now doing his best to own up to it.”

The Black Student Union at KSU, however, is not so willing to let Williams off the hook, calling for criminal charges against him in a statement posted on Facebook.

“We believe that criminal charges should be filed and this would be in the best interest of the Manhattan community,” the statement declared. “The fact that an African American man committed this act should not undermine its effect on K-State students.”

After noting that the incident “does not negate the current racist and discriminatory actions that continue to occur on our campus and in our community, state, and nation,” the group went on to vow that “no matter who wrote the despicable and hateful speech, we, the K-State Black Student Union, will never stand for hate or threatening speech.

“We urge the Riley County Police Department to strongly reconsider pressing charges against Mr. Williams,” the BSU reiterated.

https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=10126