Student's 'Go Back to Your Country' Slur Directed at Russian Provocateur, Not Immigrant
New footage reveals the nursing student's insult was aimed at a man known for hurling vulgarities, not an immigrant.
A Midwest student, recently filmed yelling "Go back to your own country," was heard directing the insult at a white man from Russia who has a history of using offensive language, according to newly surfaced footage. The incident occurred last Wednesday outside a Turning Point USA event at the University of Minnesota campus.
The student, identified as a nursing student at the University of Saint Thomas, was captured on video shouting the phrase at a man holding a megaphone who was protesting the event. The video quickly went viral, leading to widespread criticism of the student for alleged racism and hateful language.
However, additional footage from the event, reported by Alpha News, showed that the man with the megaphone, identified as leftwing activist Derek Torstenson, was engaging in provocative behavior. Torstenson was seen shouting insults at attendees and displaying a sign that read "C**T" before the student made her remark.
Torstenson, who was adopted from Moscow and reportedly has a "strong accent," is known for frequently attending protests in the Twin Cities and engaging in confrontations involving expletives. He has been involved in previous incidents, including a protest outside a Minnesota Lynx game where he allegedly waved the same sign and used vulgar language towards attendees and an event organizer.
In another instance in April, Torstenson was present at an anti-ICE event where he allegedly waved the sign while behind Turning Point USA contributor Savannah Hernandez, who reported being assaulted by protesters at the event, though Torstenson was not accused of assault.
Torstenson was also detained by police on Easter Sunday during a demonstration outside Cities Church in St. Paul. He and other demonstrators allegedly shouted harassing comments at parishioners, and Torstenson continued chanting even after a police officer warned the group about their actions.
The University of Saint Thomas acknowledged the student attends their institution, but withheld her name, citing privacy laws. The university stated it would address the incident in accordance with its student code of conduct and continue efforts to foster a respectful community.
Meanwhile, the viral video of the student's remark garnered over 10 million views and thousands of critical comments online. In contrast, Torstenson's history of provocative behavior and vulgar language appeared to receive less immediate scrutiny in mainstream reports of the incident, though some commentators, like Dustin Grage, pointed out his behavior and the media's reporting on it.