Controversial Photo Sparks Outcry: Teens Mimic George Floyd’s Death at NC High School
A social media image circulating depicts a student from the high school kneeling on another’s neck.
A photograph shared extensively on social media suggests two students at South Caldwell High School in Western North Carolina imitating George Floyd’s tragic demise. In this screenshot from Facebook, McClatchy News has obscured faces and other distinguishing features to safeguard the minors’ identities. Screenshot from Facebook
Social media posts depicting two high schoolers in North Carolina replicating George Floyd’s death have sparked an inquiry by school authorities.
A snapshot of the scene was circulated on Friday via South Caldwell High School’s Facebook page. In the image, a student is depicted giving a thumbs-up while placing a knee on the back of another student’s neck. The latter lies face down, hands restrained behind the back. The caption reads “Welcome to South Caldwell.”
Both students depicted appear to be of Caucasian descent.
Principal Phillip Little, in a video statement on Friday, acknowledged that the incident transpired during a class change the previous day and has “profoundly affected the emotional state of our students, faculty, and community.” He confirmed the school initiated an investigation on Thursday.
“Our nation is compelled to confront its tumultuous history, our challenging present, and our obligations to one another as decent individuals. Our school is presently engaged in these challenging conversations,” Little remarked. “We’ve conducted a comprehensive inquiry into this breach of school regulations and the code of conduct. The involved parties have been addressed, and we have provided counseling to their families.”
As of Monday, it remains unclear whether the implicated students have faced disciplinary action.
Located in Hudson, South Caldwell High School lies approximately 70 miles northwest of Charlotte. According to U.S. News & World Report, the school boasts an enrollment of around 1,500 students, with 89% being Caucasian. Merely 1% of the student body identifies as Black.
The tragic death of Floyd, 46, on May 25 ensued after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for over nine minutes, while three other officers stood by. Chauvin was convicted on April 20 of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
Don Phipps, superintendent for Caldwell County Schools, had yet to respond to McClatchy News’ inquiry as of Monday. However, in a statement to WBTV, he denounced the “troubling and disturbing image” of “students re-enacting the scene involving George Floyd.”
“I want to emphasize that this image does not reflect the values, beliefs, or principles of the Caldwell County Schools,” Phipps asserted. “We are deeply troubled by this conduct and extend our apologies for any emotional distress it may have caused. We commit to leveraging this incident to foster unity within our system as we endeavor to stand together, united, in support of one another.”
Little reiterated that the episode was “unacceptable.”
“It was an inappropriate depiction that demands swift action because of its disrespectfulness and insensitivity,” he stated. “Such behavior is not condoned at our institution.”