By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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BELOIT — The Beloit School District canceled all classes today after learning The Proud Boys planned a protest at the school district building.
“Our priority is always the safety and well-being of our students and staff,” the district wrote in a statement explaining the closure. “We have been informed that an outside group has a planned event in our community that may be disruptive to the school day and our students and staff. Considering the behaviors, actions, and language of certain groups who do not consider the safety and well-being of others, our buildings are closed and there is no school today.”
The district said its decision was made in collaboration with the city’s police department.
The Gateway Pundit, a right-wing news outlet, reported the planned protest, saying it was over the district’s decision not to discipline a Black teacher who was accused of taping a mask to a 13-year-old white student’s face.
Beloit police told WTVO that it investigated the claim and found no evidence of a crime.
The Proud Boys are described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a far-right extremist group that traffics in white nationalism. The group insists it is just a fraternal order that is “anti-white guilt,” the center says.
“We have zero tolerance for hate speech, violence or threats made against our staff and district,” the district wrote in its memo explaining the cancellation of classes. “We stand together as a district and community against all forms of hate and racism.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.