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SFSU Students Scuffle Over White Man’s Dreadlocks

Two black San Francisco State University students accost a young white man for having dreadlocks.

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A video was uploaded Monday of a black female at San Francisco State University accosting a student for having dreadlocks because he was white.

The woman has been identified as Bonita Tindle, whose LinkedIn profile says she works at the SFSU women’s shelter.

In the 46-second video, the student confronted by Tindle and another unidentified male has an exchange about the origins of the hairstyle and why a white student can’t have it. At one point, the student attempts to leave the scene, but is physically stopped by Tindle, who bars his way.

The student attempts to leave again via the staircase, but Tindle stops him again, at which point the student attempts to shake her by barring his arm against her. The employee grabs his arm by the shirt and pulls him back down the staircase, after which she tells him, “You put your hands on me, you’re going to learn, see.”

After a few more words, the student leaves up the staircase, and Tindle confronts the person filming the exchange, asking “Why you filming this?” The cameraman responds “just for everyone’s safety,” at which point Tindle shoves her hand onto the camera, and you can hear the cameraman saying “Hey” just as the video cuts out.

Race has been made a major issue on campuses across the world for some time now, with “Black Lives Matter” supporters marching into libraries and intimidating students, white students banned from anti-racism events, students screaming at professors over safe spaces from culturally oppressive Halloween costumes, and much more. While they are usually free of physicality, they aren’t always non-violent, as seen by Melissa Click of the University of Missouri protests being fired over her call for “muscle” to deal with a student reporter.

A police investigation has been launched, and while SFSU denies Tindle is its employee, it has confirmed she is a student, and issued a statement.

We are aware of the video made of an incident which occurred on campus yesterday afternoon. 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.

San Francisco State University promotes the rights of the campus community to engage in free speech, but does not condone behavior that impedes the safety or well-being of others. We are taking the matter seriously and will promptly and thoroughly investigate this incident through applicable University channels, including our campus student conduct procedures.

Whether charges will be filed or not, the idea that a student could be physically barred and pulled by another student over the issue of “cultural appropriation” is dangerous, and as the campus climate regarding race continues to escalate, we’re likely going to see more than pulled shirts and arm bars.