Mar 22, 2019

Charlottesville schools closed over race-based online threats

Rashaan Ayesh

Statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on UVA's campus — The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee led to clashes among protesters in August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Public schools in Charlottesville, Virginia, closed Thursday and Friday after reports of racially based online threats, per ABC News.

Details: Police arrested a 17-year-old in connection to the hostile statements, who allegedly posted intimidating remarks on "ethnic cleansing" on 4Chan, an anonymous message board, Buzzfeed reports. Police received alerts on Wednesday and the minor will be charged with a felony and one misdemeanor.

Flashback: The intimidations come almost 2 years after the Unite the Right rally at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The rally centered around the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Heather Heyer was killed during the protests of the rally.

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Charlottesville schools closed over race-based online threats

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