An assistant principal in Pennsylvania was caught on video yelling and swearing at a pro-life teenager last Friday, NBC News 10 reports.
Dr. Zach Ruffs, an assistant principle at Downingtown STEM Academy in Chester County, was placed on administrative leave as a result of the incident, the report states.
The teenager was part of a Christian group called Project Frontlines that was hosting a display outside the school, according to the report. The “holocaust of abortion” display showed photos of aborted babies and other information to help educate the public about abortion.
The group captured the incident with Ruff on video and posted it to YouTube. During various points in the 18-minute video, Ruff yelled at the teen, swore at him, threatened to call the police and told the teen to “go to Hell.” Watch it here.
Ruff told the teen at one point, “You can go to Hell where they are, too,” and motioned to a sign showing the aborted babies.
Here’s more from the report:
The argument transpired as students were leaving school for the day. Ruff appeared to be directing traffic away from the school when the incident was recorded.
“Innocent children are being murdered in our society,” declared one of the protesting teens in video footage.
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“They’re not children. They’re cells. Go home!” yelled Ruff.
“Sir, you need to turn to Jesus Christ,” the teen responded.
“Listen here, son. I am as gay as as the day is long. I don’t give an (expletive) what Jesus tells me about what I should and should not be doing. You are harassing public school students and I will call the police if you don’t shut up,” Ruff said.
“You’re acting very immaturely. I’m 16 and you’re yelling at me,” said the teen. “The truth is Jesus Christ died on a cross and rose again. You can be set free from your sins.”
Later, as the teen spoke out about how “60 million human beings have been murdered” by abortion, Ruff responded by dancing around and singing loudly, “I love a parade! I can sing louder than you can!”
The Downingtown Area School District said it does not condone that type of behavior from any of its staff.
“We do not condone or support the conduct expressed in the video and are deeply disappointed that this incident occurred. His conduct does not represent the values of the school district or the respect we expect our employees to show for the civil rights of others,” the district said in a statement.
Spokeswoman Patricia McGlone told NBC that Ruff will remain on administrative leave while they conduct a formal investigation.
According to the local news, some in the community are supporting the assistant principal.
“Mr. Ruff had every right to defend his students. What they are not showing in this video is what the posters actually depicted. There was a horrendous image of a dead baby covered in blood. This image distracted me and I almost rear-ended the person in front of me,” one STEM student wrote online.
