Colorado Students Reenact George Floyd Murder; School Officials Say Racism Will Not Be Tolerated

Three students of a Colorado high school were filmed reenacting the murder of George Floyd in a picture posted on social media. School authorities Thursday said they will not tolerate racism on the campus.

The image posted on Snapchat shows one student in blackface lying on the ground, with two other students kneeling on his back and his neck – the same position Floyd was in just before he was killed. The caption on the image posted by the students read, "Bye bye seniors."

Mead High School Principal Rachael Ayers Ayers said the photo "did not reflect our school's high standards of respect, character, and inclusivity." The students in the photo have not been identified. The school and district officials did not reveal when the photo was taken, reported ABC Denver. The image was later removed from the social media platform.

"We take this type of conduct very seriously and have begun an investigation into the matter," Ayers wrote in a letter to parents. "If you or your student saw this social media post and would like to process any feelings it may have brought forward, our counseling staff is prepared to provide additional support."

In a statement, Mead Police Department said school resource officers were working with the school authorities to investigate the incident.

"It's a very isolated group that does not get along with a lot of kids at Mead High. It was awful, what was posted, and it doesn't represent us at all," said William Dickerson, a junior at the school.

Don Haddad, the superintendent for St. Vrain Valley Schools, said the school district will not tolerate racism in any form and will immediately address the matter. "Our district reaffirms its commitment to diversity and equality in our schools and in our operations," said Haddad Thursday.

Several other students expressed anger and condemned the actions of the three students.

Andrea Sanchez, who is graduating this year, told ABC Denver, "No one should be able to make fun of that. Really, I mean it's disturbing; it's a murder. It shouldn't be re-created, it shouldn't be made fun of – nothing."