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Dave Portnoy’s latest One Bite filming in Starkville turned into a moment no decent American should shrug off: a man in the crowd hurled an antisemitic slur and tossed coins toward Portnoy while cameras rolled, a confrontation caught on video that quickly circulated online. This wasn’t edgy commentary or freewheeling college heckling — it was a targeted, hateful act in public that threatened safety and decency.
Local authorities moved after the footage spread, identifying and arresting a 20-year-old Mississippi State student who was charged with disturbing the peace and processed before being released on bond; the student later withdrew from the university. Communities have a right to expect public order during events and that criminals, not cameras, should be the ones exposed.
Portnoy himself — who has spoken openly about the rise in antisemitic incidents he’s faced — handled the encounter with tough talk and public exposure, and rightly so; Americans of every background merit protection from targeted hate. The viral nature of the clip forced the issue into the national conversation, revealing how quickly disorder can spread when individuals forget basic norms of respect.
Police were careful to note that offensive language alone is sometimes protected, but that behavior crossing into disruption or violence will draw a response, and this is the right posture for any law-abiding republic. Conservatives should defend the First Amendment while also demanding that it not be a shield for threatening conduct in public spaces.
The university’s swift public distancing and the student’s withdrawal show how campus life now reacts to scandal, but reaction is not the same as justice; due process matters even for those who do despicable things. Colleges should not be arenas for virtue-signaling that replaces fair procedures and meaningful rehabilitation where appropriate.
This episode ought to be a wake-up call to conservatives and patriots: we must stand firmly against antisemitism and other forms of hate while protecting free speech and ensuring the rule of law. Let there be no confusion — hateful conduct has consequences, and communities must not tolerate intimidation as a method of cultural enforcement.
If we value a free and decent society, leaders in law enforcement, on campus, and in the media must do more than posture; they must enforce laws, teach civility, and restore accountability. Hardworking Americans of every faith deserve safety and respect in public life, and we should use this moment to demand both justice for victims and common-sense protections for honest discourse.
