COLUMBIA, S.C. — Four high school students will not be allowed back in school this year after posting an online video re-enacting the death of George Floyd.
White Knoll High School in Lexington announced the suspension in an email to parents and students Wednesday, after the video was shared on social media over the weekend.
“Though the video was created off campus at a private home and shared outside of school hours, the unacceptable and disturbing actions of these students negatively impact their school and all of our students,” White Knoll Principal Ted Daughtrey wrote in the email.
“The four students will not be allowed to return to school, nor participate in any athletic or extracurricular activities, for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year.”
The district’s decision comes after the video sparked a Change.org petition demanding White Knoll take action over the video. As of Wednesday afternoon, it had nearly 500 signatures.
Daughtrey said the school and the Lexington 1 school district are committed to bringing people together and affirming the value of every child. “Racism breaks down a person’s value and therefore, racism has no place in our schools, community or hearts.”
The school is coordinating with the Lexington County Community Mental Health Center to help students process the event, sharing the number of a help line and making in-school counselors available for students, staff and families.
Lexington 1 Superintendent Greg Little also emphasized in the email how forcefully the district responded to the incident.
“We strongly condemn the actions of these students,” Little said in the email. “Racism, in any form, will not be tolerated by our students or staff and will be addressed immediately.”
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