Student suspended for posting hate-filled social media message

PITTSBURGH — A Central Catholic High School student was suspended for posting a hate-filled social media message against another student.

The principal of Central Catholic told Channel 11’s Catherine Varnum that the message was posted Tuesday night and that today the student had been suspended.

A junior at the school posted a photo on Instagram with a caption underneath that called a senior football player fat, ugly and contained hate-filled speech.

Central Catholic’s principal released the following statement in part regarding the incident:

“Yesterday evening, a junior at Central Catholic posted a derogatory, hate-filled post directed toward a Central Catholic senior who is African-American. Such actions run contrary to the code of conduct spelled out in the handbook... Central Catholic in no way condones the actions of this student and strives to develop young men rooted in the Gospel values of integrity, respect, service, justice, and peace."

The student that was targeted responded to the Instagram post saying in part, “It’s one thing to call me ugly, fat, etc but I could care less about that, but the racial slurs I will not tolerate. People really need to grow up because that right there is just pure hate it’s pathetic.”

The school’s leadership did meet with the Black Student Union members today at a regularly scheduled meeting. The principal said the post was part of the discussion.

Cox Media Group