University of Michigan-Dearborn apologizes for segregating cafe event by race after public outcry



The The University of Michigan-Dearborn apologized for organizing a virtual cafe event for students that was segregated by race after public outcry and ridicule.

The two cafes were divided for students that were "non-people of color" and those that were "Black, indigenous and people of color."

The zoom videoconference was organized by the university's Center for Social Justice & Inclusion for September 8.

A screenshot from the event explained the purpose of the segregated virtual spaces:

The NON-POC (People of Color) Cafe is a space for students that do not identify as persons of color to gather and discuss their experience as students on campus and as non-POC in the world.

A separate virtual event was planned for BIPOC, students who are Black, Indigenous or people of color from marginalized communities, in order to discuss their experiences under their racial and ethnic identities.

Screenshots from the event were circulated on social media and became the object of much ridicule.

From U of M - Dearborn. The Non-POC Cafe or the “White Cafe.” Anyway, I wonder what the menu looks like for the Non… https://t.co/Ua0rNBjJC7
— Abed A. Ayoub (@Abed A. Ayoub)1599628310.0

The celebrity gossip site TMZ said the event "appeared to hearken back to the days of 'Whites Only' signs in America."

The university apologized in a statement on Wednesday after facing ridicule on social media.

"UM-Dearborn sincerely regrets the terms used to describe the 'cafe' events held on Sept. 8. The terms used to describe these virtual events and the descriptions themselves were not clear and not reflective of the university's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion," the statement read.

"The original intent was to provide students from marginalized communities a space that allowed for them to exist freely without having to normalize their lives and experiences, while also providing students that do not identify as persons of color the opportunity to deepen their understanding of race and racism without harming or relying on students of color to educate them," the statement explained.

"The events were never intended to be exclusive or exclusionary for individuals of a certain race," the statement concluded. "Both events were open to all members of the UM-Dearborn campus community."

Here's another story about college campus segregation:

Segregation Or Sanctuary? Black-Only University Housing Draws Criticismwww.youtube.com

MSNBC's Joy Reid compares President Trump, supporters to Muslim terrorists — and even those on the left are destroying her for Islamophobia



On "The ReidOut" on Tuesday, MSNBC's Joy Reid compared President Donald Trump and his supporters to violent Muslim terrorists.

Needless to say, the blowback was swift and thorough, and the clip is going viral on social media.

What are the details?

In head-scratching remarks during Tuesday's broadcast, Reid hosted Kenosha, Wisconsin, residents, and discussed the president, his supporters, and recent outbreaks of violence across the U.S.

"When leaders, let's say in the Muslim world, talk a lot of violent talk, and encourage their supporters to be willing to commit violence — including on their own bodies — in order to win against whoever they decide is the enemy, we in the U.S. media describe that as 'They are radicalizing those people.' Particularly when they're radicalizing young people. That's how we talk about the way Muslims act," she reasoned during the show.

Trump supporters are acting like “Muslims act.” – Joy Reid, President of the Tolerant Left ™️https://t.co/BQgKBwgEoL
— Jason Howerton (@Jason Howerton)1598987776.0

What has been the response?

Political activist Jack Posobiec wrote, "Joy Reid just basically said Trump supporters are so violent they are like Muslims. Wow."

Joy Reid just basically said Trump supporters are so violent they are like Muslims. Wow.
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸)1598991466.0

"Wondering how fast an apology from Joy Reid is coming down," politics podcaster Stephen Miller wrote.

Wondering how fast an apology from Joy Reid is coming down.
— Stephen L. Miller (@Stephen L. Miller)1598986403.0

It wasn't just conservatives taking Reid to task over the remarks.

Progressive Indian actress and model Sana Saeed added, "This is appalling. @JoyAnnReid first just throws out 'Muslim leaders' encouraging 'their followers' to 'use their bodies to inflict violence' (which leaders?). Then compares 'how Muslims act' to American white nationalist radicalization."

This is appalling. @JoyAnnReid first just throws out “Muslim leaders” encouraging “their followers” to ‘use thei… https://t.co/IG66AQVt4x
— Sana Saeed (@Sana Saeed)1598985615.0

Women's March co-chair and political activist Linda Sarsour said, "This is not good @JoyAnnReid."

This is not good @JoyAnnReid. https://t.co/DqJSR30vmb
— Linda Sarsour (@Linda Sarsour)1598987068.0

Abed Ayoub, legal and policy director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, added, "Wow. They really don't get it. They are trying their hardest to turn our community away."

@lsarsour @JoyAnnReid Wow. They really don’t get it. They are trying their hardest to turn our community away.
— Abed A. Ayoub (@Abed A. Ayoub)1598987824.0

Civil rights attorney Zahra Billoo said, "This isn't even subtle. It's blatant Islamophobia @JoyAnnReid."

This isn’t even subtle. It’s blatant Islamophobia @JoyAnnReid. https://t.co/VoRUo2BH65
— Zahra Billoo (@Zahra Billoo)1598987172.0

Famed socialist magazine journalist Luke Savage added, "These remarks are pretty appalling. Joy Reid's subtext is more or less that Trump is 'radicalizing' his supporters, just like barbarians abroad do — 'the way Muslims act' is racism plain and simple."

These remarks are pretty appalling. Joy Reid's subtext is more or less that Trump is "radicalizing" his supporters,… https://t.co/9zhWVnRhde
— Luke Savage (@Luke Savage)1598980654.0

Ayesha Siddiqi, journalist and writer, said, "Joy Ann Reid went on msnbc to say Trump supporters are 'acting like muslims' bro I am just sitting here. I pray and then I sit at my computer and then I water my plants. what are you talking about."

Joy Ann Reid went on msnbc to say Trump supporters are “acting like muslims” bro I am just sitting here. I pray and… https://t.co/58uXM8SIpO
— Ayesha A. Siddiqi (@Ayesha A. Siddiqi)1598989730.0

Neither Reid nor MSNBC has responded to the outcry at the time of this writing.