Concerned parents, students meet with school board regarding controversial flag photo
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- Tensions ran high at Thursday night's Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board meeting.
A group of concerned parents and students demanded action after the release of a controversial photo that showed two students holding a confederate battle flag during a field trip to Gettysburg.
No action was taken at the meeting, but the subject had the school board's undivided attention.
Some want the students at least suspended, but others want forgiveness.
"Your reactions to and abuse directed towards these students who were involved has been completely out of proportion to the level of their offense," said Frank Bishop, who sympathizes with the students.
"What is relevant tonight is not the actions of individuals, but the comprehension that Instagram posts are only a symptom of a larger disease," said student Taliana Tudryn.
That larger disease some argued is racism at East Chapel Hill High School fueled by the photo with two students waving confederate flags.
The caption read, "the South will rise." Another student commented, "Already bought my first slave."
"We certainly agree that the comments made on the post -- which were that of a different student, not the poster's comments -- were wrong. They were absolutely wrong," said Matt Creatore, the poster's brother.
There was standing room only at the meeting where Creatore and dozens spoke.
Creatore's sister was on a field trip at the time during a Civil War re-enactment. She removed the picture immediately and apologized.
"My sister was one of the last two that was left, but she had no intention to hurt the black community whatsoever," said Creatore.
While the photo and comments were posted off-campus, some told the board the students substantially disrupted class time and should be punished.
"Causing a substantial disruption in the school community is a suspendable offense," said NCCU Professor Dionne McLaughlin.
"The Confederate flag -- there's nothing cute about it," said Chapel Hill resident Michelle Laws. "How dare some of you try to whitewash it and not deal with this incident seriously. We're expecting more from you."
The students involved have received death threats.
Some of the educators and students argued if the school board doesn't take action it might encourage students to take action.
Some in the room also suggestion classes on race and sensitivity training.
