Police in Holly Springs, Mississippi, are investigating a violent incident that occurred on May 17 outside a local bar called C.J. Lounge. A man was beaten, stripped naked, and drenched in beer after he reportedly entered the bar and began shouting racial slurs at other customers.
What Happened at C.J. Lounge?
According to witnesses, the man walked into the bar aggressively and immediately began using the N-word toward Black patrons. Despite efforts from some people at the bar to calm him down and ask him to leave, he continued with the racial insults.
“The guy walked in, and he was very aggressive,” said Miles Stone, one of the people at the bar during the incident. “Other guys in the area were listening, trying to remain calm. They asked him to leave quietly.”
The man reportedly refused and even made offensive hand gestures outside the venue. Cellphone videos show him continuing to use racial slurs during a scuffle outside the bar.
Brutal Reaction to Racial Abuse
According to Holly Springs police, a group of people reacted violently to the man’s racial insults. They used poles and sticks to beat him, and then kicked and stomped him while he was on the ground. Videos circulating on social media show the man lying naked on the pavement while others poured beer over his body.
Authorities are reviewing the video footage and speaking with witnesses. They believe several individuals were involved in the attack and are trying to identify all the people responsible. Police are also considering whether the case could be classified as a hate crime, depending on the final investigation results.
Community Reactions
While many people strongly condemned the man’s racist behavior, some community members, including witnesses, also expressed concern over the violent response.
“I’m not standing for anything like that,” said Stone. “However, we have to live with our choices, and he made the choice to go in there aggressively. He has to live with the choice he made.”
Troubled History of the Bar
C.J. Lounge, where the incident occurred, has been shut down by local authorities. Officials revealed that the bar was operating without a beer or business license and had been the site of multiple problems in recent months.
Police said that since the lounge opened just three months ago, officers had been called to the venue almost 30 times. These calls included reports of fights, guns found on the premises, and even a shooting that left a man injured in the foot.