Minnesota student issues apology and withdraws from Catholic college after she was filmed screaming ‘Go back to your own country’ at white Russian famed for using the c-word
The Minnesota nursing student caught on camera screaming ‘go back to your own country’ at a Russian protester has withdrawn from her Catholic college.
‘I want to sincerely apologize for my actions during the situation with the protesters,’ the University of St. Thomas student, who has not been publicly identified, said in a statement obtained by the Minnesota Star Tribune.
‘What I said and did was wrong, and I understand that my actions caused hurt and disappointment. Regardless of the circumstances, I should have handled the situation with respect, and I take full responsibility for my behavior. I am truly sorry.’
The student went viral after an altercation with leftwing activist Derek Torstenson outside a Turning Point USA event on the University of Minnesota campus last week.
She shouted, ‘go back to your own country, b****!’ at Torstenson as she walked inside the event, which featured conservative activist Riley Gaines.
The protester, who was adopted from Moscow at the age of two and has what he describes as a ‘thick accent,’ regularly frequents protests in the Twin Cities.
He is known to be involved in expletive-filled confrontations and often waves a fan that bears the word c**t.
In her statement, she acknowledged that her ‘actions have consequences’ and said she has ‘a lot to learn from this experience.’
The student added that she is ‘committed to educating myself and better understanding how my words and actions affect others.’
The University of St. Thomas student caught on camera screaming ‘go back to your own country’ at a Russian protester has withdrawn from the Catholic college
She issued the remark at leftwing activist Derek Torstenson, who was adopted from Moscow at the age of two and has what he describes as a ‘thick accent’
‘I sincerely apologize to those I have hurt or disappointed, and I will use this experience as an opportunity to grow and do better moving forward,’ the statement concluded.
The student went viral after male model Darnell Edwards shared footage of her encounter with Torstenson online.
‘Go back to your own country, b****!’ she shouted towards the megaphone-toting protester. Two male students appeared to smile and laugh at her statement.
‘I know, you hate people!’ Torstenson could be heard replying.
She noticed that another protester was taking a video and asked: ‘Why are you recording me?’
Torstenson yelled back, ‘Look at these fat, white trash weirdos who hate America.’
The footage received more than 10 million views and thousands of angry comments. The student was accused of being ‘racist’ and using ‘hateful language.’
Torstenson, however, was spotted at the event holding his c**t fan, sparking criticism that he may have called the student a vulgar slur.
Two male students appeared to smile and laugh at the statement before the female student noticed that another protester was taking a video
After the student noticed she was being recorded, she made eye contact with the camera and asked: ‘Why are you recording me?’
But the activist denied the allegations, telling the Daily Mail on Tuesday: ‘I never made any threats.’
He claimed photos of him holding the fan were taken hours before his encounter with the student and that he didn’t have the harsh sign out during the interaction with her.
He then went on to allege that the fan was not intended to be a slur against women, but instead a ‘joke.’
‘When I bring the fan out, it’s as a joke. I meant it as “see you next Tuesday” — as a joke. I was not using it as a slur,’ Torstenson told the Daily Mail.
‘It’s not a joke to call women a c**t. But c**t can have many meanings. I just bring the fan out to say, “see you next Tuesday.”‘
Torstenson has been protesting for liberal causes since 2016 and is no stranger to public controversy.
In August, he allegedly clashed with protesters over transgender participation in women’s sports outside a Minnesota Lynx game at the Target Center arena in Minneapolis.
He waved his ‘c**t fan’ during the demonstration and shouted ‘vicious’ words at attendees through his megaphone, Racket reported.
Torstenson was spotted at the event holding a fan that displayed the word ‘c**t’ on it, but has denied calling the student the vulgar slur. He told the Daily Mail the fan was meant to be a ‘joke’
An event organizer tried to get him to move, but he allegedly told her: ‘No, not leaving, b***h. Wanna get arrested, b***h.’
He allegedly waved that same fan, which he displayed at the Gaines event last week, while standing behind Turning Point USA contributor Savanah Hernandez at an anti-ICE event in April, Alpha News reported.
Hernandez was reporting on the event when she was allegedly assaulted by multiple protesters. Torstenson is not accused of attacking her.
The Russian-born activist was also detained by police during a demonstration outside Cities Church in St. Paul on Easter Sunday.
He and his fellow demonstrators shouted harassing comments at parishioners as they arrived for Sunday service, footage showed. The remarks could allegedly be heard inside as worship was taking place.
A police officer warned the protesters that their actions could result in arrests, but Torstenson continued to chant, saying: ‘Oh, is that too loud for you?’
It is unclear he if faced any charges in connection to the incident.
Torstenson told the Daily Mail that last week’s incident was not the first time his American citizenship has been questioned at demonstrations.
Video of the exchange, shared online by male model Darnell Edwards, received more than 10 million views and thousands of angry comments
‘People think because of my “thick accent” I am not a citizen,’ he said. ‘People have told me to “go back to my country” before. This is just the first time it was on video.’
The University of Saint Thomas released a statement Tuesday responding to the altercation. The school vowed to foster a community where all people are welcome, respected and treated with dignity.
The college encouraged ‘all members of our community to take accountability when their actions do not live up to these values.’
‘We further condemn the actions by those outside our community who have engaged in threats of violence, intimidation and harassment,’ the school added.
