SILVER SPRING, MD—Several brawls erupted this week on the steps of Constitution Hall at John F. Kennedy High School, casting a shadow over the school’s graduation ceremonies. Principal Vickie Adamson described the events as “an embarrassment to our community.”
Adamson revealed that some recent graduates were involved in the skirmishes, but the majority of those fighting were adults and other community members. Despite efforts by school staff to de-escalate the situation, the conflicts escalated to the point where pepper spray was used by one of the adults involved.
The situation caused significant disruption, compounded by graduation traffic, challenging the police who responded to the scene. Officers eventually managed to separate the involved parties and began an investigation based on statements collected from the scene.
In a letter to the community, Adamson expressed gratitude towards those who attempted to intervene and made responsible decisions during the incident. She emphasized, “These types of altercations are unacceptable and do not represent the values of our larger John F. Kennedy High School community.”