UPDATED (4:40 p.m. PT): The student responsible for the threat has been identified but his/her name has not been released to the public.
A racist, threatening message left on a school computer led to a mass walk-out at a high school in Berkeley, California on Thursday morning, which morphed into a rally for racial justice.
On Wednesday afternoon, local news blog Berkeleyside reports, a threatening message using racial epithets was found on a computer in the school's library. In an email to students, Berkeley High School Principal Sam Pasarow called the incident a "hate crime."
This happened at our school! When we will we as Black Students feel safe? pic.twitter.com/awoRyUX8hX— Black Student Union (@BerkeleyBSU) November 5, 2015
On Thursday morning, hundreds of students left the school in a walk-out, holding a rally outside to protest the message and stand in unity against the racism and hatred displayed in the message.
Berkeley High Walkout-1k students leave class, hold rally after racist message was found on campus computer @KTVU pic.twitter.com/NSpoAfitlK— Alex Savidge (@AlexSavidgeKTVU) November 5, 2015
@CalBSU "I will protect you. Say no more to this violence" @berkeleyside #Berkeleyhighschool pic.twitter.com/LIDpTsQCWL— Lu-z (@lucyrosenthal_) November 5, 2015
After the rally, the students began to march, first stopping by Berkeley's old City Hall and then to the famed Sprout Hall, a location on the University of California-Berkeley's campus that has been a frequent site of protests and rallies.
According to Berkeleyside, police estimated the size of the crowd at around 700 students.
Berkeley High's principal says he supports the walkout & march. He's proud of students & will work to meet demands pic.twitter.com/gJ5VfZdnJ0— Jodi Hernandez (@JodiHernandezTV) November 5, 2015
#Berkeleyhighschool #BHSWalkOut @deray @berkeleyside @kron4news @sassmasterdeane pic.twitter.com/MQEPnyK013— Lu-z (@lucyrosenthal_) November 5, 2015
Berkeley High School students gather at Sproul Hall pic.twitter.com/mwV72gq1LL— George Kelly (@allaboutgeorge) November 5, 2015
"We have nothing to lose but our chains." #bhsmarch pic.twitter.com/dlGuJbhm8d— Madelyn Lanham (@MadelynAL) November 5, 2015
The students eventually returned to campus. School leaders said that afternoon classes would go on as scheduled.
Wednesday's discovery isn't the first racially motivated incident at the school.
Last October a noose was found hanging on campus and the school's 2015 yearbook was recalled because of an offensive message one group snuck on to its page.
BREAKING: Press Release from @BerkeleyBSU on KKK threat of lynching on campus. #BerkeleyKKK https://t.co/jUqrmWCNfb pic.twitter.com/ggfXIu8wUN— Brotha B (@BlakeDontCrack) November 5, 2015