ALLEN CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – Two juveniles have been arrested in the fallout of a racist viral post at Homestead High School.
One was from a different school district and is accused of posting on social media that they were armed and in the Homestead parking lot waiting for a student who allegedly wore ‘blackface’ in that original social media post.
A second student was arrested in Homestead’s cafeteria after tensions were running high throughout the day and spilled over in “poor student behavior and conduct,” according to the district.
Students at Homestead began the day in a peaceful protest following the post making the rounds. Most students said they are upset because the racist post is indicative of a larger problem.
SACS (Southwest Allen County Schools) sent the following to families around 7:30 Thursday night:
SACS families and caregivers,
As promised, we said we would communicate with you later today, and on behalf of SACS I would like to thank you for your patience. Ideally, I would have communicated with you earlier, but our time and efforts were spent with our students.
This morning, we let you know of a social media post that we became aware of yesterday. The nature of the post was racial, and because of its vast circulation throughout our community, our students arrived at school to stand in solidarity with their peers in a peaceful protest prior to the start of school.
It was obvious after the bell rang to start the day, students still needed to talk and to be heard. Students moved into a classroom, and then to the auditorium as the group grew. Administrators worked to listen to the group’s concerns, and moderated the conversation, asking for ways in which our community could better strengthen school culture for all students. Many suggestions were merely ideas, and others were a blueprint to change. It was enlightening and heartbreaking at the same time. The conversation was at times loud and emotional, and other times, direct and poignant.
With tensions high, there were instances where emotions played out in poor student behavior and conduct. As a precaution, it was decided to issue a lockout at Homestead. A lockout allows for business as usual in the school, but no one leaves or enters the building. At approximately the same time, our SRO’s were made aware of new social media post where a threat was made and a gun was pictured. School administrators decided to hold the students in the classroom/period they were currently in until the end of the day while law enforcement investigated the post. The Allen County Sheriff’s Department was able to trace the threat to an individual outside the SACS district and made an arrest. We are thankful for their assistance throughout the day.
Today our district was challenged. The racial unrest we are seeing across the county was front and center in our community. To move forward, to be better, we must continue to facilitate and engage in conversation and take action that strengthens not only our culture at SACS but resonates throughout our entire community. We took a step forward today, but our work is just beginning. We remain committed to this effort.
You will receive further communication from me in the near future. Included will be our next steps.
Please note: Tomorrow, Friday, February 9 is the scheduled teacher in-service day. All SACS students have the day off.
I want to thank our teachers and staff throughout SACS district for the love and care extended to our students throughout the day.
