http://m.ctpost.com/news/article/Ansonia-High-student-accused-of-pledging-6772470.php
Ansonia student accused of pledging allegiance to Islamic State
By Michael P. Mayko | January 20, 2016
40
ANSONIA — Chalk it up to teenage insensitivity, ignorance or impudence.
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But an Ansonia High School student sparked a federal investigation when he substituted “ISIS” for the “United States of America” during the morning Pledge of Allegiance.
Local police did not charge the 15-year-old boy with a crime, but turned the matter over to the Department of Homeland Security, said Ansonia police Lt. Andrew Cota.
ISIS is the term often used for the Islamic State terrorist group also known as ISIL.
The incident occurred before the Christmas break, Cota said.
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The boy, who was not identified by police because he is a juvenile, is no longer at the high school. He has been assigned to classes in a modular building that is part of the Robert E. Zuraw Administration Center on Grove Street.
John R. Williams, a New Haven-based civil rights lawyer, believes everyone overreacted in the incident — which “is exactly what the terrorists want us to do.”
He said the student should have been “sent to the principal’s office, been given a stern lecture and maybe a couple of hours of detention.”
“To call the cops and Homeland Security is really out of line,” Williams said.
Homeland Security referred comment to the FBI, which did not immediately respond Wednesday. The U.S. Attorney’s office declined comment on the incident.
Ansonia Police Chief Kevin Hale said the matter is closed as far as the department is concerned.
He said a person may have First Amendment rights to free speech and to use the word “ISIS,” but that doesn’t mean “you can yell ‘fire’ in a crowded movie theater.”
Cota said in a release Thursday, “The Ansonia Police received a complaint from the Ansonia High School Administrators on October 9 of 2015. The SRO completed a report and we forwarded it off to Homeland Security as we would with any case that we feel needs to be brought to their attention. We are no longer investigating this matter. The allegation is that the male was allegedly making pro ISIS statements during the Pledge of Allegiance. As this is a juvenile matter there is no much information there is no other information being released.”
Mayor David Cassetti described the behavior as an isolated incident, and he said parents should not be concerned.
The mayor said his teenage daughter, Jennifer, who attends Ansonia High, was neither kept home nor missed school as a result of the incident.
School officials and Board of Education members referred all comment to Floyd Dugas, their Milford-based lawyer.
Dugas said the school took the action they deemed appropriate “out of an abundance of caution.” He said federal privacy laws prevent him from commenting further.
The youth’s mother, whose name is being withheld by Hearst Connecticut Media, chastised the school for taking such action during a recent Board of Education meeting. Her remarks were recorded on tape and transcribed into the board’s minutes, both of which were reviewed by Hearst.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1032157...calls-police-after-teen-islamic-state-pledge/
Connecticut high school calls police after teen 'Islamic State pledge
By Reuters Published: January 22, 2016
8
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PHOTO: AFP
Officials at a Connecticut high school called police after a teenaged student referenced the Islamic State group during a morning recitation of the US Pledge of Allegiance, an attorney for the school district and local media said on Thursday.
The police department in Ansonia, Connecticut in turn handed the matter over to the federal Department of Homeland Security, the Connecticut Post reported, citing local police officials and records of a school board meeting in Ansonia where the incident occurred in October.
Fifth-grade students arrested in US for allegedly planning explosion
The 15-year-old boy, who was not identified due to his age, was not charged but was removed from classes at the school after substituting “IS,” an acronym commonly used for Islamic State, for the words “the United States of America” during the pledge.
An attorney for the Ansonia Board of Education, Floyd Dugas, said school officials had called police “out of an abundance of caution.”
“We do not believe at this point that this young man poses any kind of risk,” Dugas said, adding that federal and state law prevented the school from saying more on the matter.
Ansonia police said in a statement provided to the newspaper, “We are no longer investigating this matter. The allegation is that the male was allegedly making pro IS statements during the Pledge of Allegiance.”
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Ansonia police officials did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.
The United States has been on an elevated state of alert for Islamic State-related attacks after a married couple in December shot dead 14 people in San Bernardino, in an attack inspired by the militant group.
Earlier this month, a man claiming allegiance to Islamic State militants shot and seriously wounded a Philadelphia police officer, according to local police.
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Read full story
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Ansonia student accused of pledging allegiance to Islamic State
By Michael P. Mayko | January 20, 2016
40
ANSONIA — Chalk it up to teenage insensitivity, ignorance or impudence.
Related Stories
Report: More than 50 U.S. citizens arrested for allegedly...
France says airstrikes against Islamic State will accelerate
US to announce plan for new visa rules for some Europeans
But an Ansonia High School student sparked a federal investigation when he substituted “ISIS” for the “United States of America” during the morning Pledge of Allegiance.
Local police did not charge the 15-year-old boy with a crime, but turned the matter over to the Department of Homeland Security, said Ansonia police Lt. Andrew Cota.
ISIS is the term often used for the Islamic State terrorist group also known as ISIL.
The incident occurred before the Christmas break, Cota said.
Raw: Mexico Bakery Serves up 'El Chapo' Cupcakes
AP
00:00 / 00:31
Autoplay: On | Off
The boy, who was not identified by police because he is a juvenile, is no longer at the high school. He has been assigned to classes in a modular building that is part of the Robert E. Zuraw Administration Center on Grove Street.
John R. Williams, a New Haven-based civil rights lawyer, believes everyone overreacted in the incident — which “is exactly what the terrorists want us to do.”
He said the student should have been “sent to the principal’s office, been given a stern lecture and maybe a couple of hours of detention.”
“To call the cops and Homeland Security is really out of line,” Williams said.
Homeland Security referred comment to the FBI, which did not immediately respond Wednesday. The U.S. Attorney’s office declined comment on the incident.
Ansonia Police Chief Kevin Hale said the matter is closed as far as the department is concerned.
He said a person may have First Amendment rights to free speech and to use the word “ISIS,” but that doesn’t mean “you can yell ‘fire’ in a crowded movie theater.”
Cota said in a release Thursday, “The Ansonia Police received a complaint from the Ansonia High School Administrators on October 9 of 2015. The SRO completed a report and we forwarded it off to Homeland Security as we would with any case that we feel needs to be brought to their attention. We are no longer investigating this matter. The allegation is that the male was allegedly making pro ISIS statements during the Pledge of Allegiance. As this is a juvenile matter there is no much information there is no other information being released.”
Mayor David Cassetti described the behavior as an isolated incident, and he said parents should not be concerned.
The mayor said his teenage daughter, Jennifer, who attends Ansonia High, was neither kept home nor missed school as a result of the incident.
School officials and Board of Education members referred all comment to Floyd Dugas, their Milford-based lawyer.
Dugas said the school took the action they deemed appropriate “out of an abundance of caution.” He said federal privacy laws prevent him from commenting further.
The youth’s mother, whose name is being withheld by Hearst Connecticut Media, chastised the school for taking such action during a recent Board of Education meeting. Her remarks were recorded on tape and transcribed into the board’s minutes, both of which were reviewed by Hearst.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1032157...calls-police-after-teen-islamic-state-pledge/
Connecticut high school calls police after teen 'Islamic State pledge
By Reuters Published: January 22, 2016
8
SHARES
SHARE TWEET
PHOTO: AFP
Officials at a Connecticut high school called police after a teenaged student referenced the Islamic State group during a morning recitation of the US Pledge of Allegiance, an attorney for the school district and local media said on Thursday.
The police department in Ansonia, Connecticut in turn handed the matter over to the federal Department of Homeland Security, the Connecticut Post reported, citing local police officials and records of a school board meeting in Ansonia where the incident occurred in October.
Fifth-grade students arrested in US for allegedly planning explosion
The 15-year-old boy, who was not identified due to his age, was not charged but was removed from classes at the school after substituting “IS,” an acronym commonly used for Islamic State, for the words “the United States of America” during the pledge.
An attorney for the Ansonia Board of Education, Floyd Dugas, said school officials had called police “out of an abundance of caution.”
“We do not believe at this point that this young man poses any kind of risk,” Dugas said, adding that federal and state law prevented the school from saying more on the matter.
Ansonia police said in a statement provided to the newspaper, “We are no longer investigating this matter. The allegation is that the male was allegedly making pro IS statements during the Pledge of Allegiance.”
US college student arrested after attempt to remove woman’s headscarf
Ansonia police officials did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.
The United States has been on an elevated state of alert for Islamic State-related attacks after a married couple in December shot dead 14 people in San Bernardino, in an attack inspired by the militant group.
Earlier this month, a man claiming allegiance to Islamic State militants shot and seriously wounded a Philadelphia police officer, according to local police.
Read more: United States
Read full story
Recommended Stories
US offers Turkey technology to block Islamic State at Syria border
The 98-kilometer-long border has served as a thruway for IS fighters, black-market goods and war materiel
NYPD officer shot, wounded
The shooting comes amid heightened security - and paranoia - following attacks in California and Paris
Ninth person arrested in Belgium over Paris attacks
The man was arrested earlier this week but prosecutors kept it quiet in order not to alert potential accomplices
**by Taboola*Sponsored Links*You May Like
How to Stop Identity Thieves When They Have Your Information
MasterCard
Bankrupt Man Did This And Now Owns Multiple Properties In Singapore
Ace Profits Academy
MUST READ: Don’t Trade Until You Know This
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Buro 24/7
Leave Your Reply Below
Name (required)
Location
Web
Your comments may appear in The Express Tribune paper. For this reason we encourage you to provide your city. The Express Tribune does not bear any responsibility for user comments.
Notify me of followup comments via e-mail
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.
Most Read
1
20 things you didn't know about Mawra Hocane
2
Chemistry teacher defies Taliban in Bacha Khan University attack
3
Bacha Khan University attackers vow to target schools in new video
4
LUMS assistant professor missing
5
Breakthrough achieved in identifying Charsadda attackers: DG ISPR
6
Farhan Akhtar and wife part ways after 16 years of marriage
7
These are the world’s best countries
8
Kaneria's life ban: I am being mistreated because I am Hindu
9
Watch how Sunny Leone calmly shuts down Indian journalist attempting to shame her
10
Syed Salahuddin warns Pakistan against crackdown
Like Us On Facebook
Follow Us On Twitter
© 2016 The Express Tribune.
Technical feedback? [email protected]
