AUGUSTA, Maine — A student at Cony High School in Augusta is facing consequences after administrators said they wrote an antisemitic message at the school.
Principal Kimberly Liscomb confirmed Thursday that the incident took place on Tuesday.
“We immediately investigated the situation and followed our policies and procedures related to the incident including consequences for the actions,” Liscomb wrote in an email.
Liscomb added the message was not a direct threat to students or staff, but the school resource officer was contacted.
No further details were provided as this specific incident involved a student.
Liscomb did say Cony High School needs to be “a welcoming place where students and staff members are part of a safe community," and that "comments like these have no place in our school or our community."
The antisemitic message comes at a time when Jewish people in Israel are under attack by the Hamas terrorist group.
Several international and national news outlets are reporting that a former leader of Hamas is calling on his followers to protest and join the fight against Israel on Friday.
Down the road from Cony High School sits the Maine State House, an area common for First Amendment rights demonstrations.
“Our main mission is to allow people to be heard, to exercise their First Amendment rights, and we want to make sure that they’re provided a safe environment to do that regardless of the messaging,” Capitol Police Chief Matthew Clancy said Thursday. “And that’s what we aim to do in this situation or in any other situation.”
Clancy said as of Thursday evening, no permits for rallies at the State House complex have been issued for Friday. But, his department is prepared to handle any “emotionally charged” situations regardless of the messaging.
“As long as they’re doing it in a lawful manner, then they’re welcome to it,” he added.
Clancy also said he communicates frequently with state, federal, and local law enforcement agencies behind the scenes to address any issues that may arise.
“And we will be ready to act if necessary, but certainly hope that’s not the case,” Clancy said.