By Paul Bean
A video circulating widely on social media today has ignited online controversy after showing what appears to be staff and students at a Vermont public school raising the flag of Somalia during what appeared to be a ceremonial event.
The footage was shared on X by the account Libs of TikTok. The popular conservative commentary page, known for highlighting cultural and educational issues, posted the 8-second clip this morning, amassing over 6,000 likes, 2,500 reposts, and 130,000 views within hours
Libs of TikTok wrote: “Vermont school district raises the Somalian Flag,” followed by the Winooski School District phone number, (802) 655-0485, for public contact.
The post quickly drew polarized reactions, with supporters praising it as a gesture of inclusivity toward the district’s diverse student body, while critics decried it as an inappropriate display of a foreign flag on U.S. soil, calling for federal funding cuts and questions about citizenship loyalties.
The Winoski School District also posted about the event to their Facebook Page, writing, “We are raising the Somali flag this week in honor of our Somali youth and families in Winooski and Vermont. On Monday, we will be gathering to celebrate together and to learn more about our civil rights.”
Response to the post was mixed:
“Very proud to be an alumni of this wonderful school district. Thank you for doing what you can to protect our community members, and for showing us the way in this dark time,” writes one commenter.
“Back in the day…..” writes another commenter, “when migrants came to America for a better life, they chose to become American. They wanted to be here, wanted to be American so they learned English, they worked hard to assimilate into our society. They didn’t hate America, they didn’t want to change it to their liking and the country appreciated that and welcomed them. Migrants didn’t expect us to cow tow to them. My, how times have changed. Can’t wait for the next 9/11.”
The event took place at the Winooski School District in Winooski, a small city just east of Burlington with a population of around 8,000.
Winooski is notable for its significant Somali immigrant community; according to recent U.S. Census data, the city has one of the highest concentrations of Somali residents in the nation, comprising about 15-20% of the population.
This demographic has shaped local initiatives, including multilingual education programs and cultural celebrations at schools like JFK Elementary and Winooski High School, which serve over 1,200 students from more than 40 countries.
For those wishing to learn more or voice concerns, the Winooski School District can be contacted at (802) 655-0485 or via their website at wsdvt.org.
Watch the raising of the Somali flag on YouTube:
