-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- 11:32 PM ET 01/11/00 Judge Upholds Decatur Expulsions By JAY HUGHES= Associated Press Writer= DECATUR, Ill. (AP) _ A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Decatur school board was within its rights to oust six black students from school for fighting at a football game. The ruling was a blow to the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his crusade against ``zero tolerance'' anti-violence policies in schools. U.S. District Judge Michael McCuskey dismissed the students' claims that the Decatur school board treated them unjustly because they are black and violated their right to a fair hearing. McCuskey issued his ruling from Urbana, where he heard three days of testimony last month. Jackson, whose Rainbow/PUSH Coalition filed the lawsuit on the students' behalf, said he would appeal. ``The court offered no relief for these youth and showed no mercy for getting them back in school,'' Jackson said during a news conference with the students and their parents at his group's Chicago headquarters. Jackson also said he planned two rallies in Decatur _ one Saturday night, Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, and another Jan. 24 in protest of the decision. He also said he had scheduled a conference Jan. 25 in Springfield on ``zero tolerance'' policies. The lawsuit was filed by five of the students who were expelled following the Sept. 17 fist fight in the stands at a football game, and one who withdrew rather than face expulsion. A sixth expelled student was not involved in the lawsuit. The teens initially were expelled for a maximum of two years. After intervention by Jackson and Gov. George Ryan, the school board reduced the expulsions to one year and agreed to allow all six teens to attend alternative schools that are not a part of the district. McCuskey struck down the students' case point by point, noting their actions threatened the safety of the community. The fight cleared the visitors' bleachers at the game but caused no serious injuries. ``In short, this court is not impressed with the students' position that because no knives or guns were used in the melee that it was not a significant fight,'' McCuskey wrote. School board officials said they were relieved at the decision and hoped it could put to rest the racial tension that has built in the blue-collar central Illinois town. ``There's a tremendous amount of healing that has to take place in the community. This has been very divisive,'' said Decatur Superintendent Kenneth Arndt. During protests in Decatur late last year, Jackson claimed the expulsions were not a racial issue. But in the lawsuit, the students argued the school district disproportionately expelled black students and disciplined them more harshly than white students. Tom Kelty, an attorney for the school board, said the decision sends the correct message about who determines school policy. ``These rules are set at the local level, and it's not the job of the federal court _ or any other court _ to interfere with these rules,'' Kelty said. http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2563211203-e9f Bard "Duty is ours, results are God's" - John Quincy Adams <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
