Chardon Schools Responds to Social Media Post
Chardon Schools officials said Monday they are taking an Instagram post very seriously that depicted two juveniles engaging in the “George Floyd Challenge."
Chardon Schools officials said Monday they are taking an Instagram post very seriously that depicted two juveniles engaging in the “George Floyd Challenge.”
Although the viral social media post designated the location of the post as Chardon, Ohio, Superintendent Michael Hanlon said locations on social media posts could be manipulated.
“We find this post to be offensive in celebrating the death of a human being under these, or any circumstances,” Hanlon wrote on the school’s official Instagram page (@chardon_schools).
“And we want you to be aware that we have researched the post and have not found any connection to Chardon Schools or our students at this time.”
Hanlon also said he had notified Chardon Police Chief Scott Niehus.
Niehus posted on Facebook about the role of social media in spreading rumors and false information.
“There are instigators using social media sites to circulate rumors designed to cause chaos and disruption, and to potential attract attention to communities such as ours,” Niehus wrote. “We are asking for your cooperation by not forwarding or sharing social media posts of this nature.”
While Chardon Schools did not share the original post, a search on social media turned up two students reenacting the arrest that led to the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, a death that has sparked protests and social media posts for more than a week.
Niehus said Monday he had a Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office investigator look into the post as well, which confirmed it was not connected to Chardon and has been circulating all over the country with multiple locations.
