Several middle school students in Rowan County have been disciplined for posting a video online in which they re-enacted the death of George Floyd.
In the video, which lasts only a few seconds, a student kneels on another student, who says, "I can't breathe." The kneeling student gives a thumbs-up to the camera, and others can be heard laughing.
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Rowan-Salisbury Schools Superintendent Tony Watlington confirmed Tuesday that the video was shot at Erwin Middle School in Salisbury. He said he believes it was shot between classes and that no teachers were present.
"There’s no place for egregious, inappropriate, racially charged, hateful activity in our school district," Watlington said "We are focused on making sure that all of our students and families are valued and that everyone can attend school and feel safe and appreciated."
Fewer than five students were involved, and school administrators took "swift and appropriate disciplinary action," he said, declining to elaborate.
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted in April on state charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s 2020 death. Floyd repeatedly said he couldn’t breathe as Chauvin pinned him to the ground with a knee on Floyd's neck.