February 16, 2016
WPIX11/Screen Shot
This photo of students desecrating an American Flag at a Pennsylvania high school is being investigated.
Officials at a Western Pennsylvania high school are investigating a photograph that appears to show two students desecrating the American Flag.
In the photo, which has circulated on social media and picked up by several national news outlets, appears to be set in a classroom. In it, a boy is stepping on the flag while a girl is giving it the middle finger.
According to CBSPittsburgh, the picture was originally posted to Facebook by a former student at Richland Township High School.
The station reports that the boy's mother apologized for the photo through the ACLU.
The principal of the school issued a statement on the school's website, saying the photo did not represent the feelings of the school community and that the matter was being investigated.
This is a message from Brandon Bailey, Principal of Richland High School, on behalf of the Richland School District Administration. We are aware of the unpatriotic photo posted online by some of our students which shows disrespect toward the American flag. This circulated photo does not represent the opinion of the district, the overall student population, or our community. Please be assured this incident is currently under review and that swift and appropriate actions will be taken in a timely manner.
A legal director with the ACLU stressed to 6WJAC that amid the controversy it was important to realize the act was constitutional:
"The Supreme Court made it clear that using the flag as part of a protest, even burning a flag, is protected by the First Amendment," said Witold Walczak from the ACLU. "There could not be criminal charges brought against the students."
Walczak did note that the act could violate one of the school's vandalism rules.
