A school district near Augusta is investigating a high school athletic director after he shared a social media post that school officials called “completely appalling,” according to multiple media reports.
The post, which was shared by Lakeside High School Athletic Director Jody Hilley, downplayed the actions and historical significance of the Ku Klux Klan, the Columbia County School District told the Augusta Chronicle.
The post was shared on the “Columbia County, GA Online Yard Sale” Facebook group, and it shows a Black man dressed in a white hood and robe, the newspaper reported. The post claimed that Black people have killed more Black people in a six-month span than the KKK has in 86 years.
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According to PolitiFact, the post appears to be based on a claim made in 2013 by former Florida congressman Allen West, who was born in Atlanta. The fact-checking news source rated his claim as "half true" due to the lack of historical records on the number of lynchings and killings accredited to the KKK.
School Superintendent Sandra Carraway provided a statement to Augusta-area news outlets about the ensuing investigation. The statement said:
“We were made aware of this post by Coach Hilley yesterday afternoon and are investigating the matter. We find the sharing of such posts completely appalling, unacceptable and inappropriate, especially for an educator. We want only the very best for our students and work diligently to provide a safe, positive learning environment for all. This type of behavior detracts from the goal, and, as such, it will not be tolerated.”
On Tuesday, Hilley released a statement on the incident, saying that sharing the post was a "mistake," according to the Chronicle.
He said he posted an item for sale in the Facebook group, and that he noticed the KKK meme was included among the items he was selling, the newspaper reported. Hilley said he deleted the post within the first minute of it being published.
“Over the course of my 33-year career, I have developed hundreds of meaningful relationships with students of every color, religion and sexual preference because I truly love the kids that I teach as people, not just as students,” he said in the statement. “It has never been nor will it ever be my intent to hurt or disrespect anyone.”
He continued by apologizing for the post, adding that he is owning up to his mistakes and wants to apologize to anyone he had offended. The school district told the Chronicle that it appreciated Hilley’s apology, but its investigation remains active.
It’s the latest in a series of incidents involving government employees and law enforcement officers sparking outrage due to social media posts regarding race and protesters.
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