(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Police are opening an investigation into what could be a racially motivated assault on the playground of an Ohio elementary school.
Police were called to Kenwood Elementary School in Springfield, Ohio regarding the incident, which took place during recess, as reported by the Post Millennial.
“A group of black students gathered several white students on a specific spot of the playground and forced them to state “Black Lives Matter” against their will,” the principal said in his statement to the police.
He stated that the attackers herded the victims to a particular spot on the playground, and chased down students who attempted to flee.
The group of students corralling their peers allegedly took videos of the incident and physically assaulted the victims when they did not comply.
Reports from the police and victims indicate that one attacker punched a victim in the head for refusing to cooperate.
Springfield Police questioned many of the victims and their classmates in an attempt to get a proper interpretation of the incident.
The Springfield City School District made a statement on WHIO News Center 7 regarding the event, assuring parents that they worked hard to keep students safe and were working closely with the police to ensure that an event like this will not take place again.
The statement did not provide any additional information as to the motivation of the attackers and did not report whether the police believe it to be a hate crime.
Ryan Springer, who has a 12 year old son at the school, said the incident took him by surprise. He stated his concern over the possible racism involved, saying that the kids “should just be worried about being children.”
Springer also voiced his dismay with the lack of action on part of the staff.
“Where was the school staff when all of this was taking place?” he asked. “And why? Why did it get so far?”
Several Twitter users reacting to the incident took this as an opportunity to encourage parents to consider homeschooling their children if possible.
HOMESCHOOL HOMESCHOOL HOMESCHOOL HOMESCHOOL HOMESCHOOL HOMESCHOOL HOMESCHOOL HOMESCHOOL HOMESCHOOL HOMESCHOOL
— TRAVIS L WAGNER (@TRAVISLWAGNER11) February 16, 2023
Dang man, when I was in elementary school we played kickball during recess.
Glad we homeschool lol
— The Rising (@TheRising819) February 15, 2023
