Graeme Harris and his father exiting the Oxford courthouse Thursday after the sentencing. (DM Photo | Logan Kirkland)
A sunrise on a cold February morning 19 months ago shed light on long-standing racial tensions as a noose and Confederate battle emblem hung from one of the University’s symbols of its steps towards racial reconciliation.
Of the two white male students who vandalized the James Meredith statue behind the Lyceum in the late hours of February 16, 2014, the first involved is facing the consequence of his actions.
Former student Graeme Phillip Harris pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor of using threatening force to intimidate black students and faculty on campus. The maximum penalty for the charge is a year in prison and a $100,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Michael Mills sentenced Harris to six months in federal prison and is requiring him to serve 100 hours of community serve for a non-profit organization.
The courtroom, filled with lawyers, curious audience members, a defendant and his family sitting front row, relived the night of the incident when the second defendant was called to the stand to testify.
Austin Reed Edenfield gave his testimony to clarify details of the night. Edenfield spoke very softly when he narrated the night that would change the pair’s lives forever.
Edenfield, like Harris, admitted playing a role in the racist act, but he said Harris was the mastermind behind the plan. The two had been drinking heavily at the Sigma Pi Epsilon house, where both men were members.
“We decided to go hang a flag and rope around the statue. Graeme wanted to make a statement, I guess. People would be talking about it, causing a stir,” Edenfield said. “Graeme asked for a Confederate flag.”
Edenfield said he provided the flag while Harris provided the rope and the original intention of the rope was to tie the flag to the statue. Circumstances quickly changed as the men approached the statue. Edenfield admitted that he was getting anxious and felt that Harris was taking too long.
“So I grabbed the rope and put it on the statue because Graeme was taking his time and I was worried the police would see us,” Edenfield said.
After Edenfield circled the bronze neck with the rope, Harris draped the old Georgia flag, containing a large image of the Confederate battle flag. The two retreated to the fraternity house.
Time passed.
It was early morning on February 17. The men left the house to go to the student union “looking for food actually” but to also see what the statue looked like, according to Edenfield. It was on this trip that the surveillance cameras at the union captured the men’s images and they had an interaction with a maintenance worker.
After leaving the union, the men passed by the statue another time en route to the fraternity house. They passed a maintenance worker.
“We could almost brush shoulders,” Edenfield said. Edenfield said Harris shouted “white power” to the worker.
Edenfield said he pushed Harris in reaction to his shouting.
“He just gave us away,” Edenfield said.
Following Edenfield’s testimony, Harris, his defense lawyer and the prosecutor rose and stood before the judge. Harris was given the opportunity to speak to the judge.
“I want to apologize specifically to James Meredith,” Harris began. “This whole experience has deeply affected my life.”
He went through a checklist of people to whom he owed apologies: the Ole Miss community, the black community and his family. He said he is working to move his life forward into a positive light.
Judge Michael Mills responded, explaining all of his research on the case as a preface to his decision.
“I can’t think of a worse place you could have done that, or a worse thing you could have done,” Mills said. “You showed a complete disregard for the rights of others. It’s one thing to hold such views, it’s another to act upon them.”
Mills continued and presented other incidents in which Harris had challenged the law. In February of 2012, he was put on probation for possession of alcohol and disorderly conduct. He was arrested in August of the same year with a blood alcohol content level of .123 and a third time this past May for a minor in possession with a blood alcohol content of .183.
“That indicates an alcohol problem,” Mills said.
Harris’ lawyer said he is currently in a program to treat his alcohol issues.
Mills continued, saying Harris also committed multiple traffic violations that displayed aggressive behavior. Harris’ father, mother and sister exchanged worried glances throughout the sentencing.
“I’m glad you’re back in college and I’ve taken that into consideration,” Mills said.
The judge will allow Harris to begin his sentence on January 4, 2016 so he can complete this semester at college. Harris will remain out on bond until then.
“It’s not fair,” Harris’ sister said through tears.
Her mother held her as she cried, but Harris’ father had a more aggressive reaction— aggressive enough to have a bailiff turn around and warn him not to begin any drama in the courtroom.
The father left.
News of the sentencing quickly made its way through the grapevine and reactions from the Oxford community were highly mixed. Some were happy that a conclusion was finally in sight. Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Brandi Hephner LaBanc sat beside current University Police Department Chief Tim Potts in the courtroom.
“This is all more about closure for the campus community. This shows that people have to be accountable if they commit a heinous action,” LaBanc said. “We’re continually working to make our campus a better one.”
Logan Wilson, vice president of the Black Student Union on campus, said his peers had mixed reactions to the sentencing.
“I’ve heard some people feel that it was light, but the majority, I feel, feel like this was a well-deserved, fair punishment,” Wilson said.
He said, when the incident happened, emotions were high and people did genuinely feel threatened despite no physical harm occurring.
“That was frightening for a lot of people,” Wilson said. “A lot of people felt that, not only was the representation his own sort of opinion, but maybe this was more common than we know and maybe he was just the first to show this. I also think that a lot of us will agree that it is very much still a present crisis, problem that we are facing today.”
Wilson said he accepts Harris’ apology because, all you have is a man’s word, but if there is no change of heart, then the apology is no good.
“I would like to think that a lot of my peers accept his apology as well, but, with that being said, words can only go so far,” Wilson said.
-Lana Ferguson and Logan Kirkland
