SFSU Investigating Video Of Black Woman Confronting White Man For Wearing Dreads

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A YouTube video showing a black San Francisco State University student confronting a white student because he was wearing dreadlocks has prompted an campus investigation and set off a barrage of hateful comments.

The video shows the pair in a campus stairwell.

22 year old SF State Senior Cory Goldstein says he was walking on campus, and wanted a flier the woman was passing out. Goldstein says the woman told him, "We don't want people with your hair coming to our event," because it belongs to her culture.

Goldstein of San Diego - asks, "You're saying I can't have a hairstyle because of your culture? Why?"

The woman, identified in published reports and on social media as student employee Bonita Tindle, respond, "Because it's my culture."

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More words are exchanged, but tension escalates when she tries to stop him from walking away.

"Yo, girl, stop touching me now, I don't need your disrespect."

SFSU 2016 - Campus employee assaults white student for "cultural appropriation" by Nicholas Silvera on YouTube

At the end the girl sees someone is capturing the scene on video and asks, "why are you filming this?"

A voice says off-camera replies, "for everyone's safety," and she reaches for the camera.

That's when the video ends.

Goldstein said he won't be pressing charges.

"The police said I could file charges if I wanted to, and that it was considered battery and a hate crime. I did not file any criminal charges," he told KPIX 5.

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San Francisco State University later released a statement on its website saying:

"We are aware of the video made of an incident which occurred on campus yesterday afternoon. University police were called to the scene of the incident when it occurred. The two individuals involved in the incident are not San Francisco State University employees. Further, no criminal charges have been pressed at this time to the University's knowledge.

"San Francisco State University promotes the rights of the campus community to engage in free speech, but does not condone behavior that impedes the safety or well-being of others. We are taking the matter seriously and will promptly and thoroughly investigate this incident through applicable University channels, including our campus student conduct procedures."

Meanwhile, the video has set off a barrage of negative, racially charged comments on YouTube. Most of them are more insulting than the video that inspired them. One comment accuses the black woman in the video of cultural appropriation because she is "wearing clothes."

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