» News
Food fight erupts into melee at Minneapolis South High School
StarTribune
200 to 300 students involved; some cited racial, ethnic tensions.
A cafeteria fight at Minneapolis South High School escalated into a melee involving hundreds of students Thursday, spurred by what parents and students said are growing racial tensions between Somali-American students and others.
Police said that 200 to 300 students shoved, kicked and threw bottles at one other and that extra Minneapolis police officers were called in to break up the fighting. Three students and one staff member were taken to a hospital for medical treatment, and police said rioting and disorderly conduct charges could be filed.
“We’re very fortunate no one got seriously injured,” said police spokesman Sgt. William Palmer, adding that in 19 years, “I honestly can’t recall a [similar] situation of this magnitude.”
While school district leaders said they didn’t know what sparked the fights, students such as Adnan Farah said they were the culmination of increasing racial tensions.
“This school is not safe for Somali students,” said Farah, a junior. “Throughout this year, there have been a lot of fights.”
Senior Guled Omar said he and other Somali-American students feel targeted at the school. “I don’t know if it’s because we’re minorities or the newest immigrant group,” he said.
Omar said that students have complained to the school district and principal about perceived discrimination, but that nothing has been done.
School district spokesman Stan Alleyne said he couldn’t comment on the students’ claims, but added that the district takes any complaints about racism seriously. “It is a safe school,” he said. Principal Cecilia Saddler did not reply to messages to comment.
Officials briefly considered canceling Friday classes, but decided instead to hold school, with some restrictions. Students will remain in their classrooms during class periods and access to the building will be limited.
“We are comfortable with the security measures that we currently have in place and we look forward to providing a normal instructional day,” the school said on its website.
Tensions aren’t new
The fighting came two days after an article in South’s student newspaper, the Southerner, described Somali-American students’ sense that tension around ethnic or racial differences has grown this year. Two students told the newspaper that earlier this school year, a welcome banner in Somali was ripped off a balcony by two students and that a lunch table that primarily had been used by East African students was removed from the lunchroom.
The article also described recent efforts to increase dialogue, such as creation of a Somali Student Association.
MORE http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/191259371.html
LadyGun12
February 16th, 2013
It is usually American blacks who target African blacks, which makes me wonder why they insist we refer to them as African-Americans.
J Frank Parnell
February 16th, 2013
Ni663rs hate everyone, especially the authentically African. The reason being is they arrive hungry to work and make a better life for themselves knowing what a real victim is.
Proving once again that “nigger” is a violent, degenerate culture and “black” is simply a skin color.
Claudia
February 16th, 2013
Any excuse for a brawl.
RosalindJ
February 16th, 2013
Creating a Somali Student Association won’t “increase dialogue” about anything except with the people who understand how deleterious balkanization is. Yay. Go progs. Be diverse because being divisive is what’s really underneath it all. Mah raghts.
IronyCurtain
February 16th, 2013
“While school district leaders said they didn’t know what sparked the fights…”
Really?
Buck Ofama
February 16th, 2013
I notice they didn’t mention the race of the other students involved, so it had to be American blacks. Had it been white students, it would have been in the headline.
Maudie N Mandeville
February 16th, 2013
‘The fighting came two days after an article in South’s student newspaper, the Southerner, described Somali-American students’ sense that tension around ethnic or racial differences has grown this year.’
I’m sure there was no mention that the ‘tension’ was between blacks and Somali’s.
sablegsd
February 16th, 2013
african muslim blacks and american blacks can’t get along? Imagine that.
Mary Jane Anklestraps
February 16th, 2013
Ladygun12, I wonder that, too.
The Africans do not consider black Americans, “African”. They should know, right?
Not all dark skinned people come from Africa, and not all white people come from Europe.
SgtZim
February 16th, 2013
American muslims not getting along with Somali muslims?
Pickled Liver
February 16th, 2013
Who started the melee? European-Americans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans or the Somali-Americans? Good Grief! Get rid of the friggen hyphenated identifications and we’ll be much better off!
MAJack
February 17th, 2013
Diversity…ain’t it great.
Carlos The Jackal
February 17th, 2013
Somalis? You mean the backward morons that stand on the toilet seat and crap all over the toilet?
Maybe that has something to do with them getting asswhoopins, yathink?