Boy charged in assault on Georgia student draped in gay pride flag

VALDOSTA, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia teenager faces juvenile charges after he attacked a student who was draped in a gay pride flag in a school cafeteria, authorities say.

Video of the incident was recorded last week at Lowndes High School in the south Georgia city of Valdosta. It shows a male student charging across the cafeteria and jerking the flag from the second boy’s back as he falls to the floor. A third student tries to push away the attacker, who slams the flag into a garbage can.

Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk told The Valdosta Daily Times that the juvenile had been charged with disorderly conduct, simple battery and disruption of a public facility. Paulk said the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, which detains some juveniles accused of misconduct, was called.

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Lowndes High School Assistant Principal Rodney Green said the victim was not physically injured and that school officials investigated after learning of the video.

“We take the well-being and safety of our students seriously,” Green said. “Our staff works hard to provide a safe environment where all of our students feel valued.”

Green said the teen who attacked the student is facing “the appropriate consequence” as listed in the school’s code of conduct.

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