After video surfaced online of a teen wearing an LGBTQ Pride flag in their school cafeteria being attacked by another student, the attacker is facing juvenile charges.
In the video, the attacker is seen pulling the flag off their fellow student’s back as that student falls to the floor of the Lowndes High School cafeteria in Valdosta, Ga. A third student tried to intervene, but the attacker pushed them aside and threw the flag into a garbage can.
According to the Valdosta Daily Times, disorderly conduct, simple battery and disruption of a public facility charges have been brought against the juvenile offender.
Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk told the outlet that the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, which detains some juveniles accused of misconduct, was called in relation to the incident.
“We are aware of a social media video involving two students and a Pride flag,” said Rodney Green, Lowndes High School assistant principal, according to the Valdosta Daily Times. “We take the well-being and safety of our students seriously. Our staff works hard to provide a safe environment where all of our students feel valued.”
Green said that school administrators made sure that the student targeted was not hurt. He also said the student who ripped the flag from the other’s back faced consequences as outlined in the school’s student code of conduct.
Authorities have not released the identities of the people in the video or when it was recorded, said the Valdosta Daily Times. Audacy could find social media posts of the video dating back to Sept. 2.
In 2013, the body of Kendrick Johnson, a Black teenager, was found inside a rolled up gym mat in the Lowndes High School gymnasium. NBC affiliate WXIA reported in March that Paulk's office was reopening an investigation into Johnson's death.
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