A viral video of Virginia middle schoolers waving Confederate flags at a basketball game has sparked outrage online and among locals.

The incident, per Atlanta Black Star, reportedly involved students from Hurley Middle School at a game against Mountain Mission School in Buchanan County, and drew major backlash online. While some parents defended the students as showing their heritage, many condemned it as a racist symbol that has no place at a middle school game.

​The video quickly spread across social media, fueling intense debate over the students’ behavior and the response they received online. Some of the children and their families say they have faced death threats after the clip circulated.

While the incident occurred earlier this year, the video has gone viral in recent days, raising further questions about how the school handled the situation.

​Mountain Mission School said in a Facebook statement that flags or behavior that “contribute to division are not appropriate” on its campus, noting that it serves students from diverse backgrounds.

​“Recently, individuals not affiliated with the school brought symbols onto our campus that do not reflect the community we seek to build for our students. Because many of the children we serve come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, symbols or behavior that contribute to division are not appropriate for our campus,” said the statement. Hurley Middle School has not responded, Atlanta Black Star reports.​

​The situation also highlights a long-running tension in Buchanan County, where the Confederate flag has remained visible in parts of the local school culture. Hurley is an unincorporated community and is one of the poorest in Virginia, according to USA Today.

​The outlet also reported that the flag appeared at Hurley High School on the basketball court, in common spaces, and on athletic gear, showing how deeply embedded the symbol is in some local traditions.

​But that history has collided with a broader national shift, especially among younger people, who increasingly view the flag as tied to slavery, segregation, and exclusion.