Man arrested after shouting antisemitic comment, throwing coins at Dave Portnoy #shorts

Key Concepts:

• Dave Portnoy
• Mississippi State student arrest
• "The Jews" chant
• Coin throwing incident
• Disturbing the peace charge
• Freedom of speech vs. creating volatile situations
• Pressing charges
• Consequences vs. arrest

Dave Portnoy's Stance on Mississippi Incident

This update clarifies Dave Portnoy's position regarding the arrest of a Mississippi State student who allegedly yelled "the Jews" and threw coins at Portnoy during a pizza review. While the initial public knowledge focused on the student's arrest for disturbing the peace, the author sought to understand Portnoy's perspective on the legal repercussions.

Initial Inquiry and Portnoy's Response

The author initially texted Portnoy, inferring from a prior conversation that he might not believe the student should have been arrested, suggesting "repercussions, consequences, but not arrested." Portnoy responded by stating, "Well, he didn't just scream the Jews. He threw coins at me in a crowd. So, I think disturbing the peace is a fair charge. I think everything Starkville PD did made sense. I wasn't expecting it, but it made sense. Free speech is one thing. Creating a potentially volatile situation is another."

Further Clarification and Portnoy's Final Statement

Following this, the author sought explicit permission to quote Portnoy and asked if he believed the student should have been arrested. Portnoy provided a more detailed response: "I was surprised he got arrested, but I think Starkville police got it right. I do not think freedom of speech covers throwing at somebody you hate and creating a potentially volatile situation. So, yes, I think disturbing the peace is a fair charge." He further elaborated that this was a new perspective for him and not something he had previously articulated publicly. Portnoy also revealed that he declined to press charges, stating, "For me, his face being attached to this incident for the rest of his life should be punishment enough if we live in a sane society, which is a big if."

Context of the Interview

It is noted that the interview where the author and Portnoy discussed these matters for a CBS Sunday Morning profile took place two to three weeks prior to the Mississippi incident, at the Barstool offices. The text exchanges, however, occurred after the Mississippi event.

Synthesis/Conclusion

Dave Portnoy, while initially surprised by the arrest, ultimately believes the charge of disturbing the peace was justified for the Mississippi State student. He distinguishes between freedom of speech and actions that involve physical aggression (throwing coins) and the creation of a potentially dangerous environment. Despite his agreement with the charge, Portnoy chose not to press charges himself, suggesting that the public notoriety of the incident would serve as sufficient consequence in a "sane society."