Racial factor weighed in brawls at Radford High Schools

[Quetzal]

Racial factor weighed in brawls at Radford High Schools

The local NAACP chapter is investigating recent fights on or near Radford High School at the request of parents, while school officials and some students say the brawls were not racially motivated.

Alphonso Braggs, president of the Honolulu-Hawaii National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, called the incidents "frightening and utterly embarrassing for the people of Hawaii."

A heavy police presence on the campus might have contributed to the relative calm yesterday in the wake of Monday's scuffles, which prompted a school lock-down.

The unrest stemmed from a brawl Saturday night after a basketball game at the school, Vice Principal Bob Frey said.

more...

Racial factor weighed in brawls at Radford High Schools

Extra Security at Radford High School


After recent claims of racism at an Oahu school the law is being called in to keep things from getting out of hand. Radford High School had extra security on campus today because of a fight after a basketball game Saturday night and more altercations yesterday. The alleged cause of those fights was racial differences.

Thomas Fairal is a sophomore at Radford, he says the school sometimes segregates itself by choice. "Groups go with groups, definitely. You don't see any white and black guys and locals or anything. It's very stereotypical."

Other students see cultural differences as playing a role in the recent fight but not downright racism. "They can't label why they can't get along so they blame it on racial problems I don't know why people do that, if they can't get along why bother trying too or even talking about it," said Steve Ryan, a senior at Radford.

The NAACP doesn't see it that way. It's been brought in to investigate racism that it says parents are very concerned about. After meeting with the board of education it wants to stop any incidents in any Hawaii school . "The NAACP here in Hawaii is gravely concerned about the serious incidents of alleged racism and discrimination within our schools... not only the incident at Radford." said Alphonso Braggs, the president of the Hawaii NAACP.

more...

http://kgmb9.com/kgmb/display.cfm?storyID=3305

Radford student expelled

One student was expelled from Radford High School yesterday and another was suspended in connection with a series of altercations that began with a fight after a basketball game Saturday night, and police kept a high profile on campus.

Meanwhile, leaders of the school board and NAACP said they were extremely concerned about allegations that the problems were sparked or fueled by racial prejudice or tension between students born in Hawai'i and those from black families stationed with the military here.

During a meeting at the Bethesda Temple Church last night, about 40 Radford parents told the NAACP and a school board member that they see violence and racial insensitivity at Radford as ongoing problems that have not been addressed by the administration.

However, Radford Principal Robert Stevens said he believed that a small group of students who were trying to establish a gang presence was largely responsible for the disputes. But he said he did not believe that the school had serious problems with gangs or racial strife.

more...
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Feb/02/ln/ln10p.html


Let me start off this thread by saying that I am not sure what to think of this. Being born and raised in Hawaii, I haven't had the chance to critically see my environment from an outside perspective. Yes, I have been to the Continental US, but that was only for vacation - never for education. More information will come out within the next coming days, weeks, months, etc., but this story should not be dropped off to the side of the road by the local media. Was their a race factor? Or did an altercation at a basketball game just go too far?

[KamaAina]

1. If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...

Of course the news is trying to downplay the racial angle -- but they (KGMB-9) did mention that Alphonso Braggs from the NAACP had been fielding calls from Radford families all day. Do you think they would be seeking out Alphonso if they didn't think there was a racial angle to this? Neither do I.