UNITED STATES – A middle school teacher in Georgia, Benjamin Reese, was arrested last week on charges of making terroristic threats and cruelty to children in the third degree.
The arrest followed allegations that Reese threatened to behead a 13-year-old Muslim student who found the Israeli flag in his classroom offensive.
The incident, which occurred at Warner Robins Middle School, involved more than 20 witnesses, and Reese was taken into custody on December 8. He has since been released on bond, and it is unclear whether he has legal representation.
The Houston County School District stated that all employees must adhere to a code of ethics, and any violation prompts an investigation.
According to the district, Reese has not been on the school campus since December 7, 2023, and the safety and well-being of students and staff are their top priorities.
Witnesses reported hearing Reese shout profane threats at three female students, including the alleged threat to behead the Muslim student, on December 7.
The incident reportedly escalated after the student expressed offense at the Israeli flag in Reese’s classroom.
School surveillance footage showed Reese following the students in the hallway, although the video did not include audio.
When confronted by the school’s principal and a sheriff’s deputy, Reese initially denied speaking to anyone but later admitted to addressing a student who found the flag offensive. He denied making racist remarks.
The Muslim student claimed she entered Reese’s classroom, questioned the presence of the Israeli flag, and expressed her offense due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
According to her account, Reese became angry, accused her of being antisemitic, and yelled at her and her friends as they left the classroom.
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) expressed support for the swift action against Reese.
CAIR-Georgia’s executive director, Azka Mahmood, called for appropriate steps to ensure the teacher does not return to classrooms, especially where Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian students might be affected.
CAIR is working with the student’s family to ensure safety in the Warner Robins community.
