Editor’s note: As The Auburn Plainsman continues to report on this story, information will be added.
Following a planned protest at Toomer’s Corner on Sunday evening, an unnamed counter-protestor attacked a protester before running away. The protester, who was left bloodied following the altercation, spent much of the demonstration by himself before being told to vacate Auburn University property by university employees and Auburn police officers when the altercation soon followed.
The altercation, which happened after university employees power-washed chalk writings associated with the protest, effectively ending it, involved several people opposed to Stephen McGentry, 27, the most vocal of a small group protesting Israel’s involvement in the Israel-Hamas war.
Before pushing McGentry, who is white, a man yelled the N-word several times at him. After the initial shove, the two punched each other several times before the man tackled McGentry to the ground, before choking and continuing to strike him. The man, who The Auburn Plainsman has not yet identified, then ran eastward along the sidewalk lining West Magnolia Ave.
McGentry declined to press charges or give police officers additional information regarding the altercation.
The demonstration began with an Instagram account called Auburnstudents4palestine published a photo on Sept. 29 announcing an “art takeover” on Toomer’s Corner to last all day throughout Oct. 6. Several participants came throughout the day and added chalk writings to the ground and brick entrance to the university. By 5 p.m., only one participant remained.
Two protesters, one vocal and one quiet, demonstrated solidarity with the Palestinian people following the high number of Palestinian civilian causalities in the Israel-Hamas war. Another demonstrator joined toward the end of the protest. Chalk writings expressing support for the Palestinian people and criticizing the United States’ and Israel’s involvement with the war.
The demonstration comes one year after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, which included executions of families, rapes of women and kidnapping of civilians, leaving over 1,000 dead during a major Jewish holiday. The attack by Hamas, which is recognized by most major governments as a terrorist organization, marked the start of the Israel-Hamas war, which has caused destruction across the Middle East and left at least 41,000 Gazans dead.
Protests led by university students across the U.S. figured prominently during the 2023–24 academic year, often ending in violent arrests of students and disciplinary action against them.
Writing out with chalk, “END GENOCIDE,” McGentry joined the demonstration at approximately 3 p.m. McGentry, who said this was not his first demonstration related to the cause, explained that after seeing the Instagram post, he decided to join.
“The reason why I think it’s important for people in Auburn to care about what’s happening in Palestine is for the one, ... what we’ve seen around the country is a militarization of our police, and they've been shown to act without impunity from the state with impunity from the state,” McGentry said.
McGentry and one other protester, who declined to speak to The Auburn Plainsman, remained at Toomer’s Corner after demonstrators dispelled early. The other protester, clad in a black hoodie, a keffiyeh and prayer beads, sat on the wall of the university’s entrance and quietly prayed throughout the demonstration.
Other sentiments of freedom for countries including Ukraine, Congo and Taiwan, as well as Puerto Rico and Hawaii, were written.
Yells in opposition to McGentry and the other protesters came from those passing the demonstration in vehicles, motorcycles and on foot.
Dan Whatley, assistant vice president of facilities operations for Auburn University, was at the scene following requests to remove the chalk markings by the university administration. While declining to provide names of specific officials who directed the clearing, Whatley said it was “all part of the university’s policies” to clear markings following demonstrations.
The protest remained peaceful until those in opposition began to pour gallon jugs of water onto the chalk writings. Police officers and university security officials attempted to deescalate the situation and convince the men carrying water jugs to wait until facilities employees came with a hose.
A man washes chalk off Toomer's Corner during a pro-Palestinian protest on Oct. 6, 2024.
Despite the attempts to stop them, several men, including several university students, began to dump water on the chalk drawings while engaging in heated exchanges with McGentry.
Meanwhile, a crowd formed underneath the oak trees at the entrance to Toomer’s Corner. Most spectators were in opposition of the takeover, with some shouting obscenities and attempting to argue with McGentry.
“Hey, if you want to make a statement, come draw with chalk,” McGentry said to the crowd.
“Where’s my shotgun?” a spectator said in response.
Once all writings were washed away, police officers escorted McGentry across the street where he later resumed his demonstration in front of Toomer’s Drugs at approximately 6:10 p.m. Several of those in opposition followed after McGentry, chanting “Trump” as they crossed the street.
“Don't come back to our school, please. We don’t want you here,” a person yelled after McGentry crossed the street.
Soon after, those in opposition began to escalate the situation further by yelling at McGentry, now located in front of Toomer's Drugs. One of the individuals — who followed McGentry across College Street — became irate and began to threaten McGentry with both coming face-to-face and coercing the other to strike.
At 6:26 p.m., the altercation between McGentry and the unnamed man took place. The unnamed counter-protester initiated physical contact by shoving McGentry, who then responded by throwing a punch. The counter-protester proceeded to tackle McGentry, pinning him to the ground and delivering several blows to his head. Bystanders pulled both McGentry and the other man away from each before the man ran away. Police presence had decreased right after McGentry's removal from university property but increased shortly after the altercation.
Damarius Nolan-Watts, 34, is a part of the Toomer’s Sit-In, which is a group of students, alumni and community members who hold peaceful demonstrations weekly at Toomer’s Corner, usually sitting along the brick wall before the university. Toomer’s Sit-In is not affiliated with the Oct. 6 demonstration; however, participants identified McGentry as participating in some sit-ins with them.
“It’s sad but also it’s a reminder of the unfortunate hateful community we live in and [the] deep hate that unfortunately is in the South, and the more I learned about these different issues, especially Palestine, how much political this is,” said Gabrielle Dunham, another participant in the Toomer’s Sit-In. “Like a lot of times, [the counter-protestors are] shouting ‘Trump’ or ‘U.S.A.’ at us, and that’s all they’re yelling at us.”
Auburn Police Department officers stand in front a chalk writing that reads in part "End the Occupation" on October 6, 2024.
Several police officers and university security officials declined to provide comment or additional information about the demonstration as it was ongoing.
Several students observing the demonstration expressed concern about the protest, citing “hate speech” and “craziness.” These students declined to provide any identifying information but yelled at McGentry and cheered as employees hosed the chalk writings.
One student, who earlier during the demonstration spat on the drawings, said McGentry “crossed the line” by yelling during his protest, which the student described as aggressive. Until McGentry was attacked after leaving the entrance of the university, his demonstration remained entirely peaceful.
Jennifer Adams, executive director of public affairs, wrote on behalf of the university in an email to The Auburn Plainsman:
“Auburn University prohibits calls for violence targeting anyone, including any ethnic, minority or religious group. While Auburn acknowledges and adheres to its obligations under the Constitution, we unequivocally condemn abhorrent speech that damages the university community.
The university’s dedication to freedom of expression does not extend to acts of vandalism. We will deal aggressively with any individual who violates the university’s policies and the offenders will be held accountable under those policies and procedures.
Auburn is a campus where we want everyone to feel welcomed, valued, respected and engaged. Members of the Auburn community who may be in need [of] support can contact the offices of Student Counseling & Psychological Services or Auburn Cares and Student Conduct.
Auburn’s Division of Student Affairs has multiple ways ... for students, faculty and staff to report an incident, concern or complaint. The person who reports the incident may choose to remain anonymous.
The office of AA/EEO & Title IX office utilizes several policies to address prohibited conduct, such as discrimination, harassment, intimidation and threatening and/or committing physical violence against another person.”
There is a planned memorial event for victims of “Israeli aggression” at Toomer’s Corner from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, according to the Auburnstudents4palestine Instagram account.
Update: In a statement emailed to The Auburn Plainsman, Darcy J. Corbitt-Hall, chaplin for the Toomer's Sit-in wrote:
“Since June 2, 2020, the Toomer’s Sit-in has held a peaceful daily demonstration without any violence, inflammatory or harmful language, or provocation coming from sit-in members, even while being called racial and homophobic slurs by members of the Auburn community and clergy on a nearly daily basis.
While the violence directed at demonstrators at Toomer’s Corner on Sunday (10/6/2024) was not directed at the Toomer’s Sit-in or its participants, our sit-in community was placed in unnecessary danger and the risk they assume every time they participate has been escalated.
We strongly condemn the use of verbal, physical, or relational aggression as a means of resolving conflict or opposing injustice. From day 1 we have embraced the principles of non-violent resistance, and our sit-in community agrees to not engage aggressively with those on the street nor to use inflammatory or offensive language.
Our sit-in community reflects a diverse cross-section of Auburn, with our members and supporters representing different races, SES, gender, sexual orientation, religious, and political groups. We are united by a shared commitment to non-violently standing up against injustice in whatever form it takes.
We will continue to practice our first amendment rights within the framework of non-violent resistance, and respectfully ask anyone who chooses to demonstrate on Toomer’s Corner during our normal 5-6pm time to do the same.”
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Connor Copeland, sophomore in English literature and philosophy, has been with The Auburn Plainsman since fall 2023.
Michaela Yielding is a senior in journalism currently serving as the news editor. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since fall 2023.
