The Star (Jamaica)

Principal on leave for Facebook post on Bryant’s death

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Some high school students in Washington state prepared to walk out of class on Wednesday to protest a Facebook post by their principal that suggested the late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant deserved to die.

The Camas School District said in a statement Tuesday that it was placing Camas High School Principal Liza Sejkora on administra­tive leave while it looked into the post she wrote on her personal Facebook page on January 26, KGW-TV reported. That was the day Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people died in a helicopter crash in California.

Sejkora wrote in the post: “Not gonna lie. Seems to me that karma caught up with a rapist today.” She deleted the post after an hour and apologised Monday, calling the message “inappropri­ate and tasteless.”

SEXUAL

ASSAULT CHARGE

In 2003, Bryant was accused of raping a 19-yearold employee at a Colorado resort. He said the two had consensual sex, and prosecutor­s later dropped a felony sexual assault charge at the request of the accuser. The woman later filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court.

“In education, we remind students to think before they post online, especially when feelings are inflamed,” Sejkora said. “My emotions and past experience­s got the best of me in that moment.”

The school district said Sejkora had been put on leave “in light of threats to … Sejkora and concern from our community,” according to the Portland, Oregon, TV station.

Students told KGW-TV that they planned to walk out of class just after 1 p.m. for nine minutes — one minute for each victim of the helicopter crash.

 ?? AP ?? Khadija Shaw
AP Khadija Shaw
 ?? AP ?? A fan stands while wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 129-102.
AP A fan stands while wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 129-102.

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