Protesters tried to barge into the Dillard University as police blockaded an entrance on Wednesday, November 2. One demonstrator hung onto the ledge above the door, while police officers used their bodies to block people from entering the venue for the Louisiana Senate debate.Some form of powder can be seen in the beginning of this video. A journalist at the scene said pepper spray was deployed on the crowd.
The protest was sparked by David Duke’s participation in the debate at Dillard, a historically black college. Duke is a former Grand Wizard, or leader, of the Ku Klux Klan. Duke qualified for the debate by a slim margin based on recent polling. Duke’s support for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was disavowed by Trump’s campaign team.
Dillard University President Walter Kimbrough accused the debate host of manipulating poll figures to ensure Duke would participate in order to increase TV ratings, according to The New Orleans Advocate. Credit: Twitter/nicksreimann