Viral Video Sparks Student Walkouts In Howard County
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (WJZ) -- Racist rant. A video allegedly featuring a Howard County student goes viral. Now the community and school system are responding.
Meghan McCorkell has more on the controversy.
That 30 second video allegedly shows a student speaking out against the Black Lives Matter movement.
The video allegedly showing a Mount Hebron High School student on a racist rant while egged on by friends has been viewed on the Internet tens of thousands of times.
It's sparked outrage both in the school and in the community.
"I think what shocked me was such a young man could be filled with so much hate," said Abeba Abraham, parent.
Now students are standing up. Dozens walked out of class Tuesday morning to send a message to the school system.
"We're not going to stand for racism. We're not going to stand for discrimination," said Robert Jett, student.
"I want them to change their policies so our students can be heard and so that racism won't be accepted," said Sarah Chernikoff, student.
Tuesday night, a town hall meeting was held at an area church to start a conversation about diversity.
"I feel like these issues that have surfaced at Mount Hebron, it's not just a Mount Hebron issue, but it's a whole Howard County issue," said Rchael Lin, student board member.
In 2014, students at Glenelg High School were reprimanded for displaying Confederate flags.
As for this latest video, the investigation is ongoing.
School officials say the student featured in that video could now face disciplinary action.
"I was outraged. There's no place for that in our society today. And students have no business making videos like this and spreading that type of hatred," said Dr. Renee Foose, Howard County Public Schools Superintendent.
And they promise swift action to try and end racism inside schools.
In a letter to parents, the superintendent calls the behavior in the video unacceptable.
The student's video was initially posted using Periscope and eventually made it to YouTube.
