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Mass. high school student filmed herself taking down, discarding Israeli flag
The video reportedly showed the student crumpling the flag in her hands and throwing it down an outdoor trash chute.
A Walpole High School student filmed herself removing and throwing away an Israeli flag from a school display Monday, according to the district’s superintendent.
Walpole Superintendent Bridget Gough said the video showed the girl “taking down and discarding an Israeli flag” that had been hanging on a wall in the history wing with “dozens of flags representing countries and people around the world.”
According to Boston 25, the video was posted to social media and showed the student crumpling the flag in her hands and throwing it down an outdoor trash chute.
“guys my fingers slipped by accident,” the post read, according to Boston 25. “i swear it was by accident (i dont give a [expletive] tbh).”
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In a Tuesday press release, Gough explained that “once the matter came to the attention of school administration, the student was identified and appropriate action was taken.”
The Israeli flag has since been replaced, she added.
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“Tolerance and inclusion are among the core principles of our school system,” Gough said. “Destruction of property and other inappropriate expressions of personal and/or political views are unacceptable. Such acts are incompatible with our mission of educating all students to achieve success.”
She declined to comment further, citing student confidentiality laws and regulations.
“However, I want to assure our school community that the safety of our students and staff continues to be our first priority,” Gough said.
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Monday’s incident came amid escalating tensions on school campuses surrounding the Israel-Hamas war.
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