Greegor
January 28th 07, 07:32 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/16558945.htm
Posted on Sat, Jan. 27,
King High students protest School security force is abusive, they
claim By MENSAH M. DEAN
On the coldest day of the year, more than 200 Martin Luther King High
School students walked out of their classes yesterday morning to
protest what they contend is the continued cold treatment they receive
from the school's security force.
They massed on the Stenton Avenue sidewalk in front of the school
holding sharply worded signs such as, "We are not criminals, we are
kids! Stop the Abuse." They chanted, "No justice, no peace!" And they
sang a song of protest closely associated with their school's
namesake: "We Shall Overcome."
Passing motorists honked their horns in support while School District
of Philadelphia police officers stood watch but did little else
throughout the hourlong demonstration.
Student organizers kept the crowd out of the street and on the
sidewalk, determined that the event would be orderly and peaceful.
"I feel like it's turning out very well," said Aliho Walker, a 17-year-
old senior who is president of King's student body. "No violence.
Everybody is listening. We have a strong crowd out here."
The decision to protest was made following a violent clash Wednesday
involving star quarterback Aleem Marshall and a handful of school
police officers and one city officer.
"I'm out here because Aleem Marshall was brutally beaten and he was
not the first," said Sevon Rainford, 18, a senior. "We are trying to
go about this in a nonviolent way with words and peace."
Aleem, 18, said that after he was wrongly accused of throwing paper at
a school officer, he was taken to the security office and attacked
there by the officers and sprayed with mace.
"I want justice," he said during the protest, which he attended with
his father. "I think we need a whole new school police force. I just
don't want to be scared in the hallway."
He was arrested Wednesday and charged with disorderly conduct for
which he has a February 24 court date, according to his mother, Joann
Marshall.
James Golden, the district's chief safety executive, said Aleem had
provoked the confrontation and had punched one of the officers in the
chest and shouted that he would kill the officers.
Golden, who monitored yesterday's protest, said he has no proof that
King's security force is abusive or otherwise inappropriate with the
school's 1,500 students.
King's student body, as well as the school police force, is virtually
all African-American. The school has been plagued by disruptive
student behavior, complaints of heavy-handed security and low test
scores for years.
"We're talking with student leaders and others with regard to their
issues and there will be a series of discussions concerning their
complaints," Golden said.
Of the protest, Golden observed: "It's a peaceful protest. Students
were orderly and conducted themselves in a manner that minimized risk.
The overall assessment is that it was a civil and orderly
demonstration."
Still, like Martin Luther King himself, the students faced
consequences for staging the protest.
Sherrine Wilkins, an official with Foundations Inc., the organization
that manages the school, said all of the students who participated
will have to serve one day of detention and Aleem was suspended from
school for two days.
The punishment, she said, was the result of a compromise with the
students.
"They were told that there would be repercussions," she said, "because
the school cannot condone that. But they have civil rights, too."
Posted on Sat, Jan. 27,
King High students protest School security force is abusive, they
claim By MENSAH M. DEAN
On the coldest day of the year, more than 200 Martin Luther King High
School students walked out of their classes yesterday morning to
protest what they contend is the continued cold treatment they receive
from the school's security force.
They massed on the Stenton Avenue sidewalk in front of the school
holding sharply worded signs such as, "We are not criminals, we are
kids! Stop the Abuse." They chanted, "No justice, no peace!" And they
sang a song of protest closely associated with their school's
namesake: "We Shall Overcome."
Passing motorists honked their horns in support while School District
of Philadelphia police officers stood watch but did little else
throughout the hourlong demonstration.
Student organizers kept the crowd out of the street and on the
sidewalk, determined that the event would be orderly and peaceful.
"I feel like it's turning out very well," said Aliho Walker, a 17-year-
old senior who is president of King's student body. "No violence.
Everybody is listening. We have a strong crowd out here."
The decision to protest was made following a violent clash Wednesday
involving star quarterback Aleem Marshall and a handful of school
police officers and one city officer.
"I'm out here because Aleem Marshall was brutally beaten and he was
not the first," said Sevon Rainford, 18, a senior. "We are trying to
go about this in a nonviolent way with words and peace."
Aleem, 18, said that after he was wrongly accused of throwing paper at
a school officer, he was taken to the security office and attacked
there by the officers and sprayed with mace.
"I want justice," he said during the protest, which he attended with
his father. "I think we need a whole new school police force. I just
don't want to be scared in the hallway."
He was arrested Wednesday and charged with disorderly conduct for
which he has a February 24 court date, according to his mother, Joann
Marshall.
James Golden, the district's chief safety executive, said Aleem had
provoked the confrontation and had punched one of the officers in the
chest and shouted that he would kill the officers.
Golden, who monitored yesterday's protest, said he has no proof that
King's security force is abusive or otherwise inappropriate with the
school's 1,500 students.
King's student body, as well as the school police force, is virtually
all African-American. The school has been plagued by disruptive
student behavior, complaints of heavy-handed security and low test
scores for years.
"We're talking with student leaders and others with regard to their
issues and there will be a series of discussions concerning their
complaints," Golden said.
Of the protest, Golden observed: "It's a peaceful protest. Students
were orderly and conducted themselves in a manner that minimized risk.
The overall assessment is that it was a civil and orderly
demonstration."
Still, like Martin Luther King himself, the students faced
consequences for staging the protest.
Sherrine Wilkins, an official with Foundations Inc., the organization
that manages the school, said all of the students who participated
will have to serve one day of detention and Aleem was suspended from
school for two days.
The punishment, she said, was the result of a compromise with the
students.
"They were told that there would be repercussions," she said, "because
the school cannot condone that. But they have civil rights, too."