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Vermont School District Keeps Somali Flag Up for Week as Threats Prompt Police and Website Lockdown

Officials say a coordinated wave of racist messages followed viral posts, leading to added safety measures.

Overview

  • The district says the U.S. flag remains on the highest mast, the Vermont flag on the second, and the Somali flag on a third mast for one week in line with the U.S. Flag Code.
  • Officials routed calls to voicemail and took the website offline to mitigate an unprecedented surge of illegitimate traffic.
  • More than 200 hostile messages were forwarded to law enforcement, with police stationed at the school and no credible threats identified so far.
  • Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria attributed the onslaught to high‑reach right‑wing social accounts that shared video and district contact information.
  • The one‑week display was described as support for Somali students, about 9% of enrollment, drawing GOP criticism and references to national debates following President Trump’s recent remarks.