A Wisconsin elementary school allegedly canceled classes because of a rumored Proud Boys protest following the claim that a school employee taped a face mask onto a 13-year-old student. “We have zero-tolerance for hate speech, violence, or threats made against our staff and District,” Beloit School District said.
When they found out that a rally was planned, the school district allegedly said in a memo that it was closing the school buildings due to “safety concerns for our students and staff.”
“Considering the behaviors, actions, and language of certain groups who do not consider the safety and well-being of others, our buildings are closed and there is no school today,” the district reportedly said.
Freedom News reported that around 40 people showed up to protest. Video footage of the protest shows what appear to be a few members of the Proud Boys, in addition to many community members and the father of the boy.
An interview from Freedom News allegedly states that the 13-year-old boy had special needs and pulled his mask down because he was struggling to breathe. The teacher reportedly told him to put the mask back on and when he did not immediately comply, taped the mask onto his face.
The father of the boy told Freedom News that five students from the class were interviewed during the investigation and only one of them sided with the teacher, saying that the teacher put tape on the mask “as a joke.”
“From the way my son came home upset, it wasn’t a joke. I know my son when he’s upset and I could tell right away that he was upset about something,” the boy’s father said.
According to Freedom News, the protest lasted around one and a half hours and ended without incident.
Superintendent Dan Keyser said in a statement he gave to a local Fox News station that they determined that there was “no violation of local or state laws” when they investigated the actions of the teacher.
Keyser said, “I am here before you to address the allegations made yesterday to the media and on social media. The media reported these allegations by a parent as true, stating there was an incident involving a child in a classroom. We worked in collaboration with the City of Beloit Police Department; they have investigated these allegations and have determined there was no violation of local or state laws.”
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Hayley Feland is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun and The Wisconsin Daily Star | Star News Network. Follow Hayley on Twitter or like her Facebook page. Send news tips to [email protected].
