Students stand on, flip off American flag in class
'If my kids did this they would be beat till they bled'
Published: 15 hours ago
Officials at a Pennsylvania high school are on the defensive after two students took pictures of themselves proudly desecrating the American flag in class.
Johnstown parents want to know how it was possible for students at Richland Township High School to stand on the American flag during school hours, brag about it by raising a middle finger to the camera, and then share it on social-media platforms.
Check out the latest patriotic memorabilia at the WND Superstore
“After you teach your students the history of America and everything that flag represents, feel free to offer them the option to move to any other country in the world that they feel would fit their needs. I know over 30,000 Navy veterans that would probably be happy to provide them with a one way ticket,” Marie Ellsworth wrote on the school’s Facebook page on Sunday.
“Disgusting. Insulting to those who gave their life for our country. Spoiled brats. Welcome them to go to another country,” said Sharon Fetterman Fiala.
“If my kids did this they would be beat till they bled just like the men and women who fight for that flag!” added Missy Units.
Police and school officials told WJAC 6 on Sunday that an investigation into the incident is underway.
A member of the American Civil Liberties Union, however, had a far different reaction than local parents.
“The message this picture sends is not justification to punish the students so the school needs to tread very carefully here,” ACLU of Pennsylvania legal director Witold Walczak told the NBC affiliate. He said it would “probably” be feasible to punish the students for vandalizing school property.
The district superintendent and district solicitor updated the school’s Facebook page as the story went viral.
“The Richland School District has become aware of this unfortunate and unpatriotic picture posed by some of its students,” the post read. “This type of picture does not represent the opinion of the District or of its overall student population. The District promises a timely and thorough review of this incident and will implement appropriate legal discipline.”
Sign up for free news alerts from WND.com, America’s independent news network.
Desecration of the American flag also became popular last summer with student activists in Atlanta, Georgia.
“The Eric Sheppard challenge” came into existence last April after cops began looking for self-proclaimed “terrorist” and New Black Panther Party activist Eric Sheppard. Police found a gun in the Valdosta State University student’s unattended backpack during a series of protests, education watchdog Campus Reform reported April 30, 2015.
Supporter Erica Walker also became infamous for saying “F–k yo flag” before dancing on the American flag and sharing the video on Facebook. Other race activists used the flag as toilet paper in the months that followed.
Sheppard was eventually arrested in Tampa, Florida, on May 28, 2015, and charged with with carrying a weapon within a school safety zone. He was then indicted by a grand jury on Oct. 2, 2015, but his attorney requested a change in venue in December for the forthcoming trial.
Sheppard faces up to eight years behind bars and up to $10,000 fines if convicted.
Read more at
http://www.wnd.com/2016/02/students-stand-on-flip-off-american-flag-in-class/#5A7XRxQVIElO76FD.99
