Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton sent a letter to a student who had a racist message left on her door last month.
Editor’s Note: The content below may be offensive to some viewers.
As The Daily Reveille previously reported, a message reading, “Go back 2 Africa N—-r monkeys,” was written on the back of a Halloween decoration hanging on Clarke Perkins’ apartment door at University House-Baton Rouge. Perkins, who works as a columnist for The Daily Reveille and as digital team intern for Clinton’s campaign over the summer, tweeted a photo of the message late on Oct. 19.
The letter, which was dated Oct. 20, said, “I was horrified and deeply concerned to learn of the hateful act that was carried out at your apartment yesterday. There is no excuse for such atrocious, hateful behavior, and I am heartened to know that the university is taking the matter seriously and taking swift action to find the perpetrator.
“While there is much progress to be made before everyone in our country receives the respect, appreciation, and dignity they deserve, I am so grateful to you for having been a part of our campaign. I am working my heart out to win this election so that, together, we can build a future with more love and kindness, where we respect and lift each other up, instead of tearing each other down. In the meantime, please that I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Stay strong, my friends.”
Perkins released this statement regarding the letter: “Hillary Rodham Clinton is truly amazing, hopefully this will assure people that she really is with us.”
When the incident first occurred, LSU President F. King Alexander released a statement to Perkins via Twitter, saying, “If the culprit is not a student, we will contact the district attorney for swift action. If an LSU student did this, they will be prosecuted under the Student Code of Conduct, with ramifications including expulsion. Let me be clear: LSU does not tolerate this behavior. Your safety and security is our priority.”
Perkins later met with Alexander about the incident, and said he offered to provide housing for her and her roommates.
University House also released a statement, ”Any University House residents found to have participated in this disgraceful act – or those hosting any guests found to have done so – will be evicted and banned from the community and we will support full criminal prosecution as well.”