An Oklahoma high school has decided to cancel their homecoming parade and football game after a photo of a racist Spirit Week sign went viral, sparking possible threats of violence.
Johnston County Sheriff Gary Dodd said in a statement Thursday night that his office discovered a potential threat involving "possible physical violence" during the Tishomingo High School homecoming game that was scheduled for Friday evening.
The possible threat is being investigated as a criminal matter, and Dodd said that additional security will be present at the high school until officials deem it no longer necessary.
A photo of several students at the high school went viral after it appeared they spelled out a racial slur using printed out letters intended for Spirit Week.
Tishomingo High School's Monday theme was supposed to be "How do you spell victory?" KXII-TV reported that the students were given out large, printed out Scrabble tiles and were told that the group that spelled the word with the most points would win.
In a statement to Facebook, Johnston County Sheriff's Office said that they were aware of the incident, and that it was being dealt with by school administrators and parents.
Tishomingo Superintendent Brandon Moreland asked the public to continue supporting the school, students and community in a statement Thursday morning.
"Racism and discrimination, in any form, will never be tolerated or accepted on our campus and is not reflective of the values of our students, school, or community," Moreland said in the statement.
He continued, "Our student body and staff include community members from all backgrounds, races, and religions, which is one of many aspects that makes our campus exceptional. On behalf of Tishomingo Public Schools, I want to personally express a sincere apology to our students, families and community."
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