Oklahoma High School Students Use Costumes to Send Hateful Message During Spirit Week

The first day of Spirit Week at Tishomingo High School in Oklahoma took a dark turn when a group of students used their costumes to send a hateful message. Instead of participating in Scrabble Day by wearing a black t-shirt to receive a random Scrabble tile, six non-Black students decided to arrange their letters to spell out the N-word.

The photo of the students in their offensive costumes quickly circulated on social media, sparking outrage in the community. A woman in a Johnston County Facebook group called out the students, revealing that they were football players who were allegedly receiving only a slap on the wrist for their actions.

Tishomingo Public Schools Superintendent Brandon Moreland was quick to issue an apology, denouncing the incident and emphasizing that racism and discrimination will not be tolerated on campus. As a result of the incident, the grand finale of the homecoming activities, including a parade and football game, were canceled due to safety concerns.

The incident caught the attention of Governor Kevin Stitt, who released a statement condemning the hateful message sent by the students. He called for those responsible to be held accountable and urged the community to choose dignity over contempt in their interactions.

While the exact consequences for the students involved remain unclear, Superintendent Moreland assured that immediate disciplinary action was taken. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of promoting inclusivity and respect in schools and communities.