Meme depicting George Floyd's death shared after high school football game in Virginia state
A school district in the state of Virginia has launched an investigation after memes were shared depicting the death of George Floyd in the wake of a high school football team's victory.
The incident reported this week saw a meme shared in the wake of Cave Spring High School's victory over Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke County, VA.
WDBJ 7 reports that the meme was shared on social media by "members or fans" of the Cave Spring school, and depicted the Cave Spring school logo superimposed on the head of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin as he knelt on George Floyd's neck, with Floyd's face covered by the Hidden Valley logo.
In a statement issued on Monday, Roanoke County Schools Superintendent Dr. Ken Nicely called the images "abhorrent" and "disturbing," saying they "do not reflect the values of Cave Spring High School or Roanoke County Public Schools."
"We strive to provide positive, welcoming communities that value respect for all students and families," the statement added. "Educating all students about respect and creating positive, inclusive learning environments is at the center of our Positive Behavior Interventions and Support program which we are in the final stages of rolling out in all of our schools. Education is a process, but we will hold individuals accountable for their actions."
The incident comes as Chauvin's trial continues in Minneapolis, with Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo saying Monday that Chauvin's decision to kneel on Floyd's neck violated MPD policies and values.
