The students contacted the Heath Department of Public Safety, which quickly removed the flags, the message states.
ROCKWALL, Texas — Rockwall ISD officials are seeking information after two antisemitic flags were seen hanging from Rockwall-Heath High School.
In a message to Rockwall-Heath High School families, Principal Todd Bradford said students observed the flags hanging from the east side of the high school. The flags were reported around 6:40 a.m. Saturday to the Heath Department of Public Safety.
The department quickly removed the “antisemitic materials” displayed on the high school, Heath DPS said in a press release.
Neither Rockwall ISD nor Heath DPS disclosed exactly what flags were displayed on the school.
“It was two massive flags that were hung over the roof right that had swastikas on them,” said Rockwall-Heath alumna Stephanie Parnes, who said she saw a photo of it shared among students online. “It was a Nazi symbol.”
“What happened was not a joke; it’s a threat,” she said. Parnes, who is Jewish, said her younger brothers were scared to attend the school on Monday.
“We appreciate the students who reported the situation quickly and our partnership with the Heath Department of Public Safety for their prompt response,” Rockwall ISD officials said in a statement. “Rockwall ISD remains committed to ensuring safe and respectful learning environments across all campuses.“
The Heath Department of Public Safety, district and campus administrators are investigating the criminal act, Bradford said in the message to parents.
“I stand with our community in firm opposition to any acts of hatred, including the hateful display of flags that were found at Rockwall-Heath High School yesterday morning,” Heath Mayor Jeremiah McClure said. “Rest assured, these actions will not be tolerated, and those accountable will face the consequences of their behavior.”
Jimmy McClintock, who co-founded a group called Ambassadors for Israel International in Rockwall, said he views this incident as a test of what the community will do next.
“Everybody is scared of the bully, so when something like this happens, it puts dread and fear into people’s hearts,” he said. “It scares people, so they want to go inside, introvert. That’s the last thing we need to do.”
Instead, he said he wants the community to stand up for what’s right.
“This is good and evil if I can put it in [those] terms,” he said. “This is right and wrong. That’s what we want to teach our children.”
Bradford asked anyone with information to contact the school or the Heath Department of Public Safety at 972-961-4900.
“We will work together to identify the responsible parties and hold them accountable for this unacceptable behavior,” Braford said.