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Student's 'racist' social media post spurs Howard police investigation

Howard County police are investigating an Oakland Mills High schooler’s social media post that principal Katherine Orlando described as ā€œracist in natureā€ in a letter sent to parents Sunday evening.

A parent provided the Howard County Times with screen shots of the Snapchat post, which show a white male student wearing a Confederate flag bandanna and using a racial slur.

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In her letter to Oakland Mills parents, Orlando said the post was ā€œupsettingā€ and that Student Services staff were available to support students throughout the school day.

ā€œI take the welfare of every student very seriously and want you to know that I am doing everything I can to better understand the origins of the social media post and evaluate the impact on our school climate and safety of our students,ā€ the letter read.

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Howard County police are investigating the post as a hate incident and police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said the school’s resource officer is working with the school administration. The post included a racial slur, Llewellyn said, but did not specifically target anyone.

The investigation is ongoing, she said.

School officials have responded to racial conflicts recently, in the past, including a walkout at Oakland Mills High in December when about 400 students protested a racist social media post. Students also created a petition to ask former Superintendent Renee Foose and the Board of Education to amend a school policy that would require students and staff be informed of any ā€œdirect or implied threatā€ made by another student.

The walkout was in response to social media posts that arose days after the presidential election and depicted a white Atholton High School student in blackface with a racial slur and another of a white River Hill High School student holding what appeared to be a handgun and using a racial slur.

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