A Facebook post of a Nazi flag hanging in a window at Governor Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, Maryland, prompted an investigation and apologies from school officials. The flag was seen many times by witnesses attending a Friday night basketball game, the Frederick News Post reported.
"I looked at it, and I thought, 'Wait a minute.' I looked at it again, I looked at my boyfriend and I was like, 'Is that what I think it is?" — Nicole Hopkins, an eyewitness
Frederick County Public Schools removed the flag, which was allegedly left up in a history classroom after a lesson on World War II.
According to NBC, they have also started conducting an internal investigation and will "take appropriate steps to ensure an incident such as this is not repeated."
"The values of FCPS are in direct contrast to the message represented by that flag, and we apologize that the display of this flag caused hurt in our community," the Frederick County Public Schools statement read.
The county’s Board of Education executives spent the weekend responding to comments on Hopkins’ viral Facebook post, which gained 400 shares and more than 700 comments, according to the Frederick News Post.
“The flag being left on display was not a good idea at all and unacceptable...we will use it as a teachable moment for staff and students,” said Board Vice President Jay Mason.
“...it should have been taken down after the lesson and was in very poor taste to have been left up in a window,” Board President Brad Young wrote. “I know it will be used as a learning lesson for staff and students. I on behalf of the school apologize for it happening.”
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