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Ohio police are pursuing charges against students involved in a disturbing racial incident at Kenwood Elementary School in Springfield. The incident, which reportedly occurred during recess on February 12th, involved a group of Black students allegedly rounding up white students and forcing them to kneel and pledge allegiance to the Black Lives Matter movement. Several of the white students were also reportedly assaulted.
According to an incident report obtained through a News Center 7 public records request, the police were called to the school on February 13th. The report indicates that a group of Black students had gathered several white students on a specific spot of the playground and forced them to state “Black Lives Matter” against their will. The report further alleges that students who tried to avoid the situation were chased down and forcibly brought to the playground, where they were filmed being coerced into making the statement.
The incident has caused concern among parents of students at Kenwood Elementary School, with some expressing anxiety about sending their children to school. One parent, Ryan Springer, reported that his 12-year-old son was among the white students who were coerced into making the statement.
“They basically told him to get down on his knees and say ‘BLM’ and if he didn’t that they was going to beat him up and all that,” Springer said.
The police investigation is ongoing, and charges are expected to be filed against the students involved in the incident. While it is unclear at this time what specific charges the students will face, the incident has highlighted the need for schools to address issues of racial discrimination and harassment.
School officials have not yet released a statement regarding the incident, but it is likely that they will face scrutiny for their handling of the situation. As more details emerge, it is clear that this disturbing incident has had a significant impact on the Kenwood Elementary School community and serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to address issues of racial discrimination and intolerance in our schools.