Valdosta State University (VSU) in Georgia closed Friday due to a massive protest planned on the school's campus.
According to the Valdosta Daily Times, protest organizers filed a permit for the demonstration, a response to an incident last week in which the American Flag was dishonored. In the previous demonstration, participants walked on the flag to protest racism before an Army veteran took it from them.
In that incident, police took Michelle Manhart, a former Air Force Trainer and a current Playboy model, into custody before returning the flag and eventually releasing her, the Times reported. Andy Clark, VSU vice president of enrollment, marketing and communications, said Friday's demonstrators will have to keep to the sidewalk and will not be allowed on campus.
"We've got people from the city on campus, we've got state patrol on standby, and we've also got our officers here double-shifting," he told the newspaper. "We'll have more units from outside the area here Friday when the Flags Over Valdosta demonstration is going on."
Earlier in the week, VSU alerted the campus community of a backpack with a handgun in it found at the Odum Library determined to belong to Eric Sheppard, a student known to have been involved in the American Flag protest. In its statement, the school said Sheppard is likely armed.
"Number one, the gun has been registered back to Mr. Sheppard. He bought the gun," Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress said in a press conference, according to WALB. "We have on video, in evidence, where he put that book bag down, which had the gun in it, and it was left there and no one touched that book bag until VSU Police performing extra patrols picked that book bag up."
VSU released another statement with Sheppard's father asking his son to surrender without issue.
"Son, you know we love you and have always taught you to do the right thing and make wise decisions," Eric Sheppard Sr. said. "Please make the right decision and turn yourself in, either to the authorities or to me, and we will handle this together. We love you and are here for you, as you requested."
