investigating the “Zoom-bombing” incident that allegedly occurred at a virtual University Park diversity event Monday night.
In a statement, the university said evidence suggests the incident was racially motivated. Event attendees said the unwanted Zoom user allegedly depicted themself as a police officer to “reenact” the police killing of George Floyd and direct hate speech at guests. Penn State also suggested the Zoom-bomber brandished a firearm.
Penn State said a similar event, potentially linked by the same suspect, also occurred at its Brandywine campus. At this time, neither police nor the university has indicated the individual is affiliated with Penn State in any way.
By Matt DiSanto and Geoff Rushton
Penn State University Police and Public Safety is investigating after a “Zoom bombing” incident on Monday night in which an unidentified individual joined a virtual diversity event at University Park and directed hate speech and “horrific” gestures at guests.
A similar incident occurred during an online diversity event at Penn State Brandywine on Monday night, according to the university.
Both attacks come a little more than two weeks after dozens of unauthorized users joined a
Penn State Black Caucus event on Zoom and directed racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic hate speech and gestures at participants.