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Video appears to show Houston County High School athletes mimicking the KKK

The video from last year appears to show the players with hoods over their heads and whipping sounds playing in the background. Now, the NAACP is calling for answers

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — For the second time in a year, Houston County's sports community is reacting to a racist video getting shared on social media. 

Nearly eleven months ago, it was racist remarks from a former Houston County coach. Now, there's a video being shared of Houston County baseball players apparently mimicking the Ku Klux Klan. 

Jonathan Johnson is the President of the Houston County NAACP chapter. He said he was outraged to hear about this.

"This is not going to be tolerated," Johnson said.

The video has been shared and reposted on social media and sent to our newsroom. It apparently depicts Houston County High School athletes in what looks to be a hotel room.

The young men in the video have hoods over their heads and are playing whip sounds. The person narrating the video says they sound "like the KKK."

Johnson said their youth council president attends Houston County High School. Johnson said some students are upset, but this isn't the first time.

"They were shocked. That's why they wanted to be part of the NAACP as well because there's been some things going on there for some years," Johnson said.

The man behind the camera starts to name people in the video. The names match those of players on the Houston County High School's baseball team.

The video is apparently from last April. 

Rutha Jackson is a youth advisor for the NAACP. She said the delayed response to this is concerning.

"We feel that if they hide this, what else are you hiding?" Jackson asked.

The Houston County NAACP chapter said they want someone from the school district to acknowledge what's going on or to simply say they don't tolerate this behavior.

"Now instead of him saying something about it, now it has caused a whole fire in all of us African Americans that are concerned about these kind of things coming from under the cover so to speak," Jackson said.

Houston County Board of Education spokeswoman, Jennifer Jones, said they're investigating the matter, and she couldn't comment further due to privacy laws.

In a statement from the Board of Education, they said:

"Due to federal privacy laws and the current investigation of this incident, we are unable to discuss student matters; however, the Houston County School District takes matters like this very seriously.  All students in Houston County are expected to uphold the Student Code of Conduct, and any violations are dealt with appropriately and in accordance with our discipline procedures."

Jackson said she wants young people to be more aware.

"So think before you act because this is not funny," Jackson said.

The Houston County High School Student Handbook said certain behaviors will result in disciplinary actions including disrespectful conduct.

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