Viral Video Shows Teen Assault Student With Pride Flag At High School

A Georgia high school student who was caught on camera attacking a fellow student over an LGBTQ pride flag has been charged in connection to the incident, the Lowndes County sheriff said Friday.

Sheriff Ashley Paulk said a juvenile suspect at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia, was charged with disorderly conduct, simple battery and disruption of a public facility, The Valdosta Daily Times reported. The Department of Juvenile Justice was called on the case, according to the sheriff.

The charges came only one day after the video went viral on social media.

The clip posted on Twitter Thursday by a former student of the high school showed the juvenile suspect rushing toward a student wrapped in a rainbow pride flag in what appeared to be the school cafeteria, grabbing the flag and pulling the student out of their seat.

The student is dragged across the floor by the assaulter as another schoolmate attempts to stop the attacker. The attacker eventually rips the flag away and throws it into a trash can.

The Twitter user who captured the incident on video later alleged that the attacker “was apparently dared to do it for $5.”

While the Twitter user named the alleged attacker in his post, authorities have not released the identities of the people in the video and when it took place.

“We are aware of a social media video involving two students and a Pride flag,” Rodney Green, Lowndes High School assistant principal, said in a statement obtained by Valdosta Daily Times. “We take the well-being and safety of our students seriously. Our staff works hard to provide a safe environment where all of our students feel valued.”

The assistant principal added that an investigation into the incident was launched as soon as the school administration was informed. He also said that the victim was not hurt and that they were discussing the appropriate sanction for the other student based on the Student Code of Conduct.