According to the Bath Chronicle, a group of white teenagers allegedly chained and whipped a black classmate at a Bath, England, school as part of a "mock slave auction." Police are investigating the incident.

The school's administrators found themselves in hot water with lawmakers, anti-racism groups and parents after it was revealed that the school chose not to expell the white teenagers. Instead, all of the teens were allowed to return to school after a short suspension.

Tottenham Labour MP David Lammy tweeted that the alleged incident was a display of "vicious, nasty prejudice," noting that he hoped such racist attitudes had "died out in the UK by the mid 1980s."

Vicious, nasty prejudice that I had hoped died out in the UK by the mid 1980’s is back. This disgusting behaviour is fuelled by the toxic culture of a newly reborn hard right exceptionalism, xenophobia and glorifying of Britain’s imperial and colonial past https://t.co/smW0a3qdml— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) March 14, 2018

Some are blaming the incident on right-wing Conservatives and Brexit; one Twitter user stated Leave leaders awakened "the sleeping racist in British culture."

"This shows where the casual racism of our political leaders, reflected in much of the mainstream media, can lead to," said a spokesman for local protest organization Bristol Stand Up to Racism. "It also shows the urgency for an anti-racist curriculum in all schools. We call on the governors and headteacher of the school in Bath, to work with organisations like Show Racism the Red Card [to combat racist attitudes]. Bristol Stand Up To Racism, alongside the NEU teachers' union are also willing to talk to school assemblies on the need for anti-racist activity and curricula."

One parent told the Chronicle that she is upset not only about the incident, but a lack of communication on the part of the school, and the school's response.

"There are so many rumors and the school has failed to communicate in any reasonable or sensible way with parents," she said. "It is particularly disappointing that no action has been taken within the school in the way of school assemblies etc to talk to pupils about racism and diversity/inclusion."

Bath, England

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