Ole Miss statue vandalism suspect identified
Published 3:50 pm Sunday, May 31, 2020
The University of Mississippi officially identified the man who vandalized the confederate monument in the Circle on Saturday evening.
According to a statement from UM, Zachary Borenstein, 38, was arrested and charged with injuring, destroying or defacing certain cemetery property, public buildings, schools or churches, or property thereof, which is classified as a felony.
In the act of vandalizing the statue, the words “spiritual genocide” were spray-painted in black on every side of the statue, accompanied by blood red handprints. Borenstein was arrested on the scene by an officer with the University Police Department.
Borenstein will be arraigned on Monday, June 1, by a Lafayette County Justice Court judge, where bond will be set.
Borenstein is a former student of the University, having recently graduated with a master of arts degree. He has also been identified as a geometry teacher at Simmons Junior-Senior High School in the Hollandale School District.