WASHINGTON COUNTY, TN (WJHL) – The former East Tennessee State University student who dressed up in a gorilla mask was in court Wednesday afternoon.
In September, Tristan Rettke dressed in a gorilla mask handed out bananas during a Black Live Matter Event on campus.
Police arrested Rettke and charged him with civil rights intimidation.
His attorney claims Rettke was exercising Freedom of Speech and did not intimidate anyone.
Rettke’s preliminary hearing was re-scheduled for Dec. 19.Previous stories:
- VIDEO: ETSU student in gorilla mask handing out bananas during Black Lives Matter event charged
- Attorney: Gorilla-masked student didn’t intimidate activists
- Gorilla-masked student no longer enrolled at ETSU; Defense attorney says he didn’t intimidate activists
