Confederate flag at center of court ruling

In a federal appeals court ruling today involving the Confederate Flag ... the panel has ruled in favor of a Tennessee high school that banned students from wearing the flag. The ban came after students came to school wearing the flag prompted a fight, a civil rights complaint, a racial slur and a noose. The court ruled against three students who claimed their free speech rights were violated, saying the school was acting to prevent disruption of education.

Students expelled over 'noose incident'

Hardaway High School (MCSD)

The Muscogee County School District (MCSD) has expelled two white male Hardaway High School students who allegedly made a rope noose and dropped it in front of two two black female students in an incident on Nov. 6.

The decision was taken at a two-hour MCSD tribunal held on Thursday, according to spokesperson Valerie Fuller. A statement released by Fuller said the board found the students guilty of:

• Rule 1 Disruption and Interference with School
• Rule 5 Verbal Assault, Physical Assault, Disrespectful Conduct of Students
• Rule 12 Acts of Misconduct
  

according to the parent-student handbook. The students have the right to appeal the decision.

Click here for previous GPB coverage of this story.

Two Columbus students suspended for 'noose incident'

Hardaway High School (MCSD)

Two Columbus high school pupils, both white males, are accused of dropping a rope noose before two black female students. The two female pupils are in their senior and freshman year.

The Muscogee County School District says the students have been suspended for ten days following the incident, which took place at the school's gym on Tuesday.

School District spokesperson Valarie Fuller says officials consider the incident, "intolerable."

"One of the students who tied, or apparently tied or made the noose, said he was making a 'painter's knot,"

Fuller says. She does not believe the two have a record of similar behavior at the school in the past, but added that she was awaiting confirmation. She says the two female students,

"...reported in the police report that they didn't feel any threat, of any sort."

Fuller stressed that the two accused youths were not charged with criminal activity.

Hardaway Prinicpal Matt Bell held a meeting with faculty to explain the details of the incident. Fuller says teachers discussed the incident with students during what the school calls a daily "Character Minute." Counselors are available for pupils, Fuller says, and

The accused white students are in their junior and sophomore year. They will appear before a panel of educators at a school district tribunal, on November 15.

MCSD Superintendent John Phillips told reporters:

"Obviously we are not going to allow that behavior in our school system for one minute. We obviously take this very serious and will not tolerate any act of this nature. Whether the intent was in a joking way or not, that is absolutely not acceptable in our school district."

According to the school's online Student - Parent Discipline and Guidance handbook, if the incident is considered a threat, it could possibly be considered as a "Level II," or a "Level III Violation," depending on the tribunal's conclusions. The handbook says that Level III violations may incur up to and including:

"Criminal prosecution

Assignment to Rose Hill Alternative School.

Expulsion from the Muscogee County School District (which could include permanent expulsion).

Click here for more GPB News coverage of educational affairs.

Airport worker fired for hanging noose

A worker at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport has been fired for hanging a noose. Other workers discovered the noose Tuesday at a work site. The unidentified man worked for a subcontractor hired by Archer Western Contractors.

Nooses found at NJ Home Depot

Atlanta-based Home Depot is under fire after nooses were found hanging at a New Jersey store. Police in Passaic County say black employees' discovered three nooses Wednesday. One was yellow, one black, one brown. In an e-mail to the local newspaper, a Home Depot spokeswoman said the store chain has a zero tolerance policy against discrimination and harassment.