STUDENTS CONCERNED ABOUT RODNEY KING RULING

Black students at Cape Girardeau Public Schools expressed outrage at the Rodney King verdict and concerns about signs of racism in the school and community.

About 30 students attended a meeting Monday afternoon, sponsored by the local chapter of the NAACP, to discuss student feelings about the acquittal of four white Los Angeles policemen accused in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King.

Representatives from the NAACP, the Cape Girardeau Police Department and assistant principal Robert King were on hand to answer questions from students.

"We want to avoid what happened out there (in Los Angeles)," Debra Willis, community coordinator for the local NAACP, told the students.

"When questions brew and you don't have answers and you feel you don't have a chance to express your anger and anxiety, that's when riots erupt," Willis said. "We want you to feel you have someone to talk to."

Students expressed outrage at the Rodney King verdict, but then said they weren't really surprised.

"This started a long time ago," said student Kenya Moore. "They planted the seed a long time ago, watered it and watched it grow. Now we need some kind of weed killer. I hope that people can stop looking at color first."

Student Rena Campbell said, "The only thing positive that came out of this is that it brought black people together. The looting and rioting was wrong, but I think we need to be together. We can't deal with racism by ourselves."

Of Monday's gathering at the high school, Willis said, "It despairs me that just one white student showed up."

The verdict sparked violence in Los Angeles and across the nation. "Now there has been a public outcry of rage over the verdict," said Willis. "People are banding together and saying no."

At the same time, she said, "We don't want to see a Rodney King out of any one of you. Every time a police officer rolls up to the scene, they don't intend to do you harm."

Students talked with Cape Girardeau Police Sgt. Carl Kinnison about the use of force by police officers, probable cause for arrest and what constitutes reasonable suspicion for officers to stop people and question them.

"Basically we can use the minimum amount of force necessary to affect the arrest," Kinnison said. "We do not have to back down."

Kinnison offered to meet with students weekly or monthly if students would like to talk about problems or concerns.

Michael Sterling, president of the NAACP, told students, "I have had a lot of parents talk to me about racism in the school. We want you to tell us what problems you are facing."

He invited students to attend NAACP meetings every third Friday at 7 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Civic Center. The next meeting is May 15. He and Willis said they hope to form a youth chapter.

Sterling said, "This (Rodney King verdict) serves as a wake-up call for the community. The community needs to wake up to the problems we have that are unique in the black community."

Student Adrena Pearson said, "I feel that no matter what we try to do, people just look at us as black. They should look at us as people, not a color."

She hopes Monday's meeting will help instigate some change.

But Campbell said, "I think everyone has a little bit of racism in them. This has been going on for such a long time, I don't think it's going to change, at least not very fast."

Campbell believes she is often watched closely by employees at local stores because she is black.

"I get the same reaction here at school. I'm a nice person. I try to be nice to everyone. But people here at school act like they are scared to talk to you because you are black."

Marlon McElmurry said, "I want some of the problems solved at our school. I'm getting tired of this."

Aisha Jones said, "I came today to be part of the discussion. I felt that everyone needed to be part of this. Nothing is going to be resolved unless we stick together."