Newark Students Protest School Conditions: Political Sabotage Against Booker?

Newark High School Students Walk Out In Protest Of Filthy, Unsafe School Environment


They say there are rats, mice, cockroaches, spiders, guns and fights in the hallways.

That’s why students say they walked out of a Newark high school today, to protest what they called a filthy school environment that’s also not safe. They also called for the return of the school’s former principal.

During the afternoon protest, students walked out of Barringer High School in staggered waves of 10 or 20. Some students said security guards blocked doors to prevent anyone from going outside.

A large crowd came outside when the fire alarm sounded, but soon went back in.

The demonstration came two weeks after authorities said a 15-year-old student was sexually assaulted inside a classroom at the Parker Street school. A 17-year-old student was arrested in connection with the Sept. 22 incident, police said.

Students got the word out about the protest on Facebook and said they’ve had enough of feeling unsafe and learning in an unsanitary school.

"It’s like a jungle," said Ashley Martinez, a 17-year-old senior at the high school. "The school’s out of control and I don’t feel safe."

Valerie Merritt, a spokeswoman for Newark schools, said the district has encountered insect and rodent problems over the years, but the system’s facilities team regularly exterminates and conducts daily and weekly cleanings.

On several Facebook pages about the protest — one had more than 300 members who said they would attend the event — students said they need to see a dramatic change.

Tyree Thomas, also a 17-year-old senior, said he created a Facebook page about the protest because he feels like Barringer lacks structure. Thomas said he did not have a class schedule until the third week of school.

Merritt said some of Barringer’s students did not have their class schedules at the start of the school year, however the district worked with the school to ensure each student had a schedule and the "matter has been rectified."

The high school, with grades 10-12, has about 1,300 students.

Thomas also said he wants the district to hire back the school’s former principal, Jose Aviles, who was transferred to another school. Aviles, who was principal at Barringer for two years, was vice principal at a city elementary school until he resigned shortly after the school year began to go to a local charter school.

The current principal is on medical leave, said Merritt.

Aviles said he was flattered by the call for his return. "I miss them," he said of the students.

"If somehow, someway, I could come back, I would," he said.

He also said students had the right to protest. But he said the protest should not have been during school hours.

"We’ve endured this from September 2 until now," said Thomas. "We’ve waited too long and we’re sick of the violence."




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Sources: NJ.com, CBS News, Facebook, Youtube, Google Maps

Addressing America's Inner City Gang Violence Problem

Huffington Post:

I grew up in South Central LA. It's where my family is, it's where many of my friends are and it's where I learned to play basketball. Having grown up in this area, I know what it's like to be surrounded by gang violence, so when Stacy Peralta approached me to produce his documentary, Crips and Bloods: Made in America, I jumped at the chance to get involved. I had two goals for the film. First, I wanted to show people about why we have gangs in our inner cities, because unless you understand the history you can't address the issue. And second, I wanted to show people what we can do to resolve this.

Until we stop looking at these kids as monsters we will never break the cycle of gang violence. People need to understand that in communities in which family units have broken apart and there are few, if any, economic opportunities, gangs become like surrogate families, identities.

Throwing people in jail is not going to solve this problem. As NFL great and youth advocate Jim Brown says in our film, "If more police or jails were the solution, the problem would have been fixed 30 years ago." If we are going to address this issue in a meaningful way, we need a new approach.

That's where Congressman Bobby Scott's Youth PROMISE Act comes in. PROMISE stands for Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and Education -- it's exactly what we're advocating in our film and we're proud to get behind this effort.

The Act is based on prevention and intervention programs that work with local schools, community centers, faith-based organizations, and parents to prevent violence before it begins. The whole idea is to give these kids another way, another option, instead of joining gangs.

Stacy Peralta, my producing partner Cash Warren, and I have been asked by Congressman Scott to show our film and speak at his Youth PROMISE Act rally in Washington DC on May 7th on the west lawn of the Capitol Building (the same place where President Obama was sworn in). So please get involved. Go to cripsandbloodsmovie.com, order the DVD, watch it with your friends and family and then write to your Congressman or woman to support this important act. Let's end the killing in our inner cities -- let's work together for a better and more peaceful future.

Baron Davis of the NBA

(Directed by critically acclaimed documentary filmmaker Stacy Peralta and Executive Produced by NBA star Baron Davis and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Stephen Luczo, Crips and Bloods: Made in America tells the story of the Crips and Bloods, South Los Angeles' two most infamous African-American gangs of LA.)




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Sources: Huffington Post, Youtube, Google Maps

North Carolina To Get High Speed Rail! (I Told You So!!)

Yesterday during a Press conference President Obama with Vice-President Biden, Rahm Emanuel and his Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood (R) in attendance, unveiled his extensive plan to develop Fast Track, High Speed Rail in America.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration he will launch a new and efficient high-speed passenger rail network in 100-600 mile corridors that will connect communities across the nation.

If you recall I mentioned this same topic in a previous post dated April 8Th entitled, "Charlotte's 2009 Mayoral Race is On!".

In that post I described how due to silly political power struggles, North Carolina Democrats seemed to be holding up the progress for High Speed Rail in the Southeast.

In that same post I also gave kudos to current Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (R) for working diligently to help build the FIRST Light Rail system in the entire Tarheel state!

Of course my weblog wasn't the first publication to mention this development but I was probably one of the first to remind you.

Hmmm could it be possible that someone within President Obama's administration read my post? If so I'm flattered!

When he signed the Stimulus bill into law on Feb. 17Th, there was $8 Billion dollars plus allocated specifically for both High Speed Rail and Inner City Light Rail.

Of course everyone knows its going to take longer than 4 years and much more than $8 Billion dollars to develop and build cross country High Speed/ Light Rail, but I'd say its a good start don't you think?

While speaking before reporters, President Obama emphasized how America is miles behind other countries such as China, Spain, Japan (rail with speeds of more than 300 mph) and France in the use of cross country high speed rail.

I totally agree! How can we compete with other countries on the cutting edge of Green Energy, Clean Air, Education, Technology, Science, Communication, Job Creation, etc., if we are still only using cars, planes or Greyhound as our main modes of transportation?

In addition how can we as a country upgrade Urban Planning for the Inner Cities if we don't offer the people who live in those areas a better, faster way of getting to work?

As the project continues to unfold, the 10 major corridors expected to be included in the Federal Railroad Administration's blueprint for High Speed Rail are listed below.

President Obama stated that only Leaders from the 10 major corridors who submit plans right away for construction will get the money.

Well Governor Bev. Perdue and the North Carolina Legislators what on you waiting on? Get moving!

Now as you smile at the thought of this wonderful vision, just don't forget that I told you so!

• California corridor (Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego

• Pacific Northwest corridor (Eugene, Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Vancouver British Columbia)

• South Central corridor (Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Little Rock)

• Gulf Coast corridor (Houston, New Orleans, Mobile, Birmingham, Atlanta)

• Chicago hub network (Chicago, Milwaukee, Twin Cities, St. Louis, Kansas City, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville)

• Florida corridor (Orlando, Tampa, Miami)

• Southeast corridor (Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Macon, Columbia, Savannah, Jacksonville)

• Keystone corridor (Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh)

• Empire corridor (New York City, Albany, Buffalo)

• Northern New England corridor (Boston, Montreal, Portland, Springfield, New Haven, Albany

President Barack Obama unveils his plans for High Speed Rail to the nation.




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Sources: Whitehouse.gov, Huffington Post, MSNBC, Time.com, Federal Railroad Administration, Black Political Buzz, MSNBC, NPR, Charmeck.org, Flickr, Google Maps, Youtube