A former Ole Miss student was charged on Friday with two different civil rights charges for hanging a noose and a former Georgia flag depicting a Confederate symbol around the campus statue of James Meredith, the first African-American student of the said school.

Graeme Phillip Harris of Alpharetta, Georgia was indicted by the Justice Department for one count of conspiracy, citing a violation of civil rights. Another count was that of Harris using a threat of force in intimidating African-American students by racial discrimination.

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Harris allegedly disrespected the statue of James Meredith situated at Ole Miss Campus in Oxford in February 2014. Harris was a student of the said campus when he did the crime.

University Spokesperson Danny Blanton claimed that Harris is no longer enrolled in the university and that the school has submitted Harris' case to federal prosecutors.

"This shameful and ignorant act is an insult to all Americans and a violation of our most strongly-held values," said Attorney General Eric Holder. "No one should ever be made to feel threatened or intimidated because of what they look like or who they are.

"By taking appropriate action to hold wrongdoers accountable, the Department of Justice is sending a clear message that flagrant infringements of our historic civil rights will not go unnoticed or unpunished," Holder added.

Meanwhile, the university's officials also expressed their side.

Ole Miss Chancellor Dan Jones pointed out the university's high regard for civil rights.

"I am thankful for the strong, united response of our university community to the desecration of the James Meredith statue last year, confirming our university values of civility and respect," Jones said.

In 2006, the Meredith statue was erected at Ole Miss in recognition of Meredith's struggle for racial equality and civil rights when he enrolled at the said university in 1962.

TagsUniv Mississippi, James Meredith., Racism