'Racist' Video Shared At Anne Arundel County High School Draws Student Discipline

GAMBRILLS, MD — A concerning video was shared around Arundel High School, a school spokesperson told Patch on Monday.

Police also investigated potential threats against the school. Officials said they found online posts discussing possible threats, but there were never any true threats posted.

Bob Mosier, a spokesperson for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, said the video showed "a student making racist, bigoted and demeaning statements."

Principal Gina Davenport said the video also contained "biased ... language referring to race, gender identity and sexual orientation."

Officials said they disciplined the accused student appropriately.

Davenport said the investigation started Thursday just before 2 p.m. when the video was shared on social media and then sent to many people using the iPhone's AirDrop feature.

"The words and thoughts uttered in the video are not acceptable in any setting and certainly not in our school building," Davenport said Thursday in her first of two letters to families. "They are not reflective of who we aspire to be, and the fact that they were uttered is evidence that we must continue to focus our efforts to create an environment where every student and staff member feels like they belong."

Many students and staff immediately reported the video to the school's office.

Administrators said they identified the student and contacted their family. The student was not in the school when the video was circulated.

"I want to assure you that we are taking appropriate disciplinary action with regard to the student who appeared in the video," Davenport said Thursday in her second letter. "While I cannot discuss the specifics of that action with you, I can tell you the student will not be attending classes tomorrow."

Davenport's second letter also said she was in contact with the Anne Arundel County Police Department, which found no credible threats.

The principal noted that there were extra police officers at the school Friday "to help relieve anxiety amongst students, families and staff."

Davenport invited students to talk with any staff member for support resources. She also reminded the community that they can report concerns 24/7 by calling the Safe Schools Maryland Tip Line at 833-MD-B-SAFE.

"The types of comments contained in the video are not acceptable in any setting," Mosier told Patch in a Monday email. "The school, school system, and police worked quickly and collaboratively to address the initial issue and then maintained contact throughout the evening to help ensure that students and staff would be safe at school the following morning. The school provided information to families less than an hour after school dismissed and again at approximately 10 p.m. on the evening of the incident."

Davenport's first letter is posted here. Her second letter is available at this link.