NEW LONDON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A heightened police presence was on hand for New London High School’s graduation ceremony Friday night.
It was the result of a picture posted to social media, which is being described as bullying.
The picture has been taken down, but a screen grab of the original post has since been shared more than a thousand times on Facebook.
Missing among the people walking into the high school’s graduation were three senior girls. Superintendent Kathy Gwidt says the absences had to do with the picture posted to Instagram the night before.
“We made the recommendation for the safety and wellbeing of all that they should not be a part of tonight’s ceremony,” said Gwidt.
The girls who posted the picture did not want their names shared, but spoke to FOX 11 on the phone. They say they followed police recommendations to not attend graduation, because they have been receiving death threats from across the country in response to their picture.
WTAQ and FOX 11 have decided not to show the picture, because it involves minors. Plus, the person who originally posted the picture has since taken it down.
The picture includes the three senior girls posing and gesturing in the middle of the street. In the background, down the street, you can see emergency vehicles tending to a car crash.
Some people who have seen the picture say what angers them the most is the caption, because they believe it makes fun of injuries a girl suffered in the crash.
“There is no space for bullying in our community, in our schools,” said Gwidt.
“The fact that three girls would think it’s funny that somebody was involved in a car accident and could have been seriously injured and not only that, but there is people in the background who are doing their job to protect and serve the community and somebody makes a joke of it,” said Carissa Griffin, a 2012 graduate of New London.
The girls who took the picture say they only meant for it to be a joke, not to bully.
Gwidt says one of the girls in the picture emailed the school’s principal in the early morning about the post and that she had taken it down.
Following district protocol for bullying, the principal called police.
The city implemented an ordinance against bullying in 2014.
“We don’t certainly want to see any bullying in the city of New London, involving social media or otherwise,” said Captain Chris Gregory of the New London Police Department.
Violators of the bullying ordinance can be issued a citation. However, none were issued in this case because no formal complaint was filed.
However, the department did increase its presence at graduation after seeing potential threats on social media in response to the girls’ picture.
“I’ve since talked to some girls who are friends with someone who made a statement on social media about causing a disturbance and she said they would not be going on school property,” said Gregory.
As for possible school punishments, the superintendent says that is confidential. However, Gwidt says the girls involved with the post received their diplomas privately before the regular ceremony.
FOX 11 did talk with the girl involved in the car crash. She says she is fine after suffering whiplash and a bruised kneecap in the crash.
