WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |Student arrived at school with confederate flags, noose on car

Student arrived at school with confederate flags, noose on car

The school resource officer at Independence High School in Williamson County was called into action Friday after students became upset when another student arrived at the school with a noose and confederate flags displayed on his car.

Williamson County School District spokesperson Carol Birdsong said the incident was immediately investigated on Friday.

She said the student was asked to remove the items and was disciplined.

"It's a fine line that we walk when you're trying to balance a student's free speech under the First Amendment rights and school safety...  it's very difficult," Birdsong told News 2.

The principal at Independence High School left a message for parents regarding the incident on Friday afternoon.

In part, the message said, "For this reason, beginning Monday the display of wearing of the confederate flag and or other racially offensive symbols on campus is prohibited."

The tension created by the incident lingered on Monday.

Birdsong said students still wore shirts with confederate symbols on them, but were asked to change.

Some students at Independence High School told News 2 the incident upset them.

Juliana Finley, students, said, "I just feel bad for the people who were hurt by that and think that you should definitely bring that stuff to school.  If you are going to have it, have it at your house."

An email was also sent to parents Monday about what happened.

School leaders said they plan on working with students to address any racial issues that may exist.