White student in gorilla mask hands out bananas during black lives matter event...student charged!

 A peaceful protest on East Tennessee State University’s campus Wednesday afternoon was disrupted when a man wearing a gorilla mask showed up and started handing out bananas to students holding Black Lives Matter signs.

According to ETSU spokesman Joe Smith, students were on campus holding a peaceful demonstration when the man approached them and started handing out bananas.
An ETSU Department of Public Safety report said officers responded to a disorderly conduct call at Borchuck Plaza, where a Black Lives Matter event was taking place.
According to the report, when police arrived they saw a man, later identified as Tristan Rettke wearing blue jean overalls, a white T-shirt and a black gorilla mask.

Police said Rettke had a rope and bananas, which he was holding out to the students that were protesting.

Rettke was then identified, detained and taken to the Public Safety Office.According to the report, Rettke said a couple of days ago he saw on Yik Yak , a social media site that a Black Lives Matter event was happening in the Free Speech area of Borchuck Plaza.

Rettke told police he then went to the store Tuesday, where he bought a rope to tie a bunch of bananas to, and also purchased a gorilla mask.
According to the report, Rettke said he wore the gorilla mask, had a bunch of bananas hanging from a rope, was carrying a burlap sack with a rebel flag with a marijuana leaf on it to try to provoke Black Lives Matter protesters.

Rettke was charged with civil rights intimidation after discussion by public safety supervisors, campus administration and the District Attorney General’s office.

Rettke was arrested and taken to Washington County Detention Center.

ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland said Rettke is a freshman at the university.

Noland said to his knowledge, he was a member of a living learning community, but not a member of any formal clubs, organizations or athletic teams.

During a news conference around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Noland called Rettke’s actions incomprehensible and intolerable, adding that the student’s actions do not represent the values of the institution and said he commends the students gathered Wednesay who “rose above hatred.”

Students gathered at ETSU’s D.P. Culp Center Wednesday night to focus on the campus coming together to begin the healing process. Students at the event expressed how important the gathering was.

“It made me feel better, like people actually cared,” protestor Patrick Black said after the event.