High school athletes suspended (by racist administrators) after "controversial" photo

[Viking12]

SHEBOYGAN FALLS - "I did it like every other kid does it when they make a 3," said Sheboygan Falls Senior, Jordan Jackson.
The Sheboygan Falls News took a couple pictures of Jordan, Jamal and Juwaun Jackson for a story about the brothers moving to the district. They took one serious pic, and a goofy pic. The goofy picture ran. It's the brothers' pose that got them in trouble.

"When you make a three, everyone does this sign. You've probably seen LeBron James or someone do it. I did the three in the picture, and my little brother pointed at the camera,"

The Sheboygan Falls Superintendent would not go on-camera but says parents complained it looked like gang symbols. The school even asked the police department to look into the signs.

http://tmj4.video.jrn.com?ndn.trackingGroup=90836&ndn.siteSection=ndn&ndn.videoId=25526916&freewheel=90836&sitesection=ndn&vid=25526916

[Packerowner740]

1. I wouldn't have any idea what those signs mean

[Viking12]

2. 3 pointer

?1345864500

?w=650&h=433&q=85

[frylock]

3. you'd have to be living under a rock to not realize that kid was throwing up..

the 3-point sign. I throw up that same sign when I see fellow riders on Triumphs.

[Shandris]

11. While I think the whole 'under a rock' thing is a bit hyperbolic, I don't think that...

...it would have taken much research to look into the symbol for someone who didn't know what it meant. I mean...I'd never seen it before, except for that stupid 'you looked' game from the mid-80's, but then again I don't watch basketball.

This seems like a knee-jerk reaction based on horrible stereotypes, and these people should receive some kind of disciplinarian action for it (not the players, the ones who suspended them, obviously!). With all the information available on the internet, I am hard-pressed to think of any situation outside of a direct emergency that shouldn't be doublechecked by a simple google search. Somehow that point needs to be made; I've heard of probations where people were made to do talks at schools or other things like that. Perhaps some time talking about what is (or should be) basic knowledge to people (perhaps on tv?) would be...'educational' for those more inclined to knee-jerk. A probational, non-paid talk show circuit. A bit of public shame and education without absolutely destroying their lives, and perhaps saves a -bunch- of young people problems in the future. I like that idea.

[Packerowner740]

25. I don't watch much/any basketball really.

[ZombieHorde]

26. I didn't know about the sign until this thread.

I never watch basketball, so I don't know very much about it.

[Scuba]

35. When Decker or the Dukie does it, it means "3-pointer". But it's gangbanging black kids ...

... when they do it.

Stupid = Racist = Stupid = Racist = Stupid = Racist = Stupid = Racist = Stupid = Racist = Stupid = Racist = Stupid = Racist = Stupid = Racist

[uponit7771]

4. To them they're black, they HAVE to be gang members and not Straight A Students... sigh

[joeybee12]

5. The asshat superintendent needs to watch at least one basketball game in his life...

Yeah, if these were white kids he would have figured it out sooner...what a shithead.

[surrealAmerican]

21. I disagree.

He can't be an expert in everything a student might know. What he needs to do is actually investigate the complaint before taking disciplinary action against his students. A few minutes of his time was all it would have taken.

[XemaSab]

6. Interview with the kid at this link

http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/High-school-athletes-forced-to-miss-game-after-controversial-photo-240370901.html

[angstlessk]

14. So, first it was the parents who complained..then when they interviewed the parents

they saw no problem...then it became the students did not feel safe...which is it you racist prick?

[Harmony Blue]

7. I have never seen that sign in my life (on the court) and I was born in southern cal

where basketball is huge.

[caraher]

9. Nor had I, but...

just because I hadn't seen it doesn't make it a gang sign. And if it makes me "uncomfortable" that's really my problem.

[Harmony Blue]

10. You don't know for sure

so you have to be careful and err on the side of caution.

Wearing all blue or all red in southern cal could end your life. Most people don't know this or the little subtle cues.

[XemaSab]

15. I posted an interview with the kid

If he's a gang banger, I'm J. Edgar Hoover.

[Harmony Blue]

18. My childhood friend was a nice kid too

but he was involved with gangs. He was forced to go to Somerset high school because he was falling behind.

http://www.busd.k12.ca.us/somerset-high.htm

[bettyellen]

16. You mean err on the side of caution - IF you're African- American?

Got it!

[Harmony Blue]

17. I have seen Asian students and white students suspended

for using signs as I grew up in southern cal. There were Asian gangs, black gangs, white gangs, etc.

Nice swing and miss though.

[bettyellen]

23. so… you're comparing these athletes to gang members now? Ok then.

[caraher]

19. Maybe in LA

But this is Sheboygan Falls, WI. Context does matter - these kids are not in an area known for gang violence.

[Gemini Cat]

37. Ridiculous paranoia.

[Bradical79]

13. It's the guy on the left doing the 3 point sign.

I've seen it a lot and someone up above posted some pics.

[caraher]

8. Ugh

Could you possibly find a less threatening photo of a few happy, well-adjusted teens? Unbelievable! It takes a lot of imagination to be this frightened of everything, all the time...

[Vashta Nerada]

12. Three black guys pictured together throwing up hand gestures

are obviously gang thugs.





The superintendent needs to watch a basketball game once-in-a-while. Good gods.

[Demo_Chris]

20. Has anyone notified the NSA about potential terrorists?!

Wait, never mind, they already know.

[edhopper]

22. Well

three black kids together is a gang.



I wonder if the administrator has a kid in a opposing school?

[Quayblue]

24. oh geezus

Yeah and these kids are so stupid that they'd announce their gang-affiliation in the fucking local newspaper of all places *rolls eyes*

[mythology]

36. To be fair, people do put videos of crimes up on youtube and the like

That said, this is obviously not a case of kids putting up gang signs.

[Jamaal510]

27. Reppin' the streets of Sheboygan Falls to the fullest!

How green could the parents who complained be to believe that those were gang signs?

[Archae]

31. Sheboygan Falls is nearly entirely white.

I live near Sheboygan Falls, and Falls is so white they glow.

[sibelian]

28. They look like such nice blokes...

Whatever the hand stuff is, they don't look like "gangsters" at all. Look at the guy on the right, you could take him him to your Mom!

[JI7]

29. is there anyone who doesn't think this is Racist ?

that the idiot dumbfuck parents aren't racist ? that the administrators aren't racist ?

[laundry_queen]

38. It's racist. nt

[caraher]

30. Demographic factoids about Sheboygan Falls

From Wikipedia, on the 2010 Census results:

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,775 people, 3,480 households, and 2,152 families residing in the city.... The racial makeup of the city was 96.1% White, 0.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races.

So the arrival of the Jackson family increased the African American population of the city by 10% or so...

[gollygee]

33. There is nothing even remotely "thug" like about that picture

Look at their smiles! And how friendly they look - the one guy has his arm draped around the other. They look like school kids. Nice kids! And friends.

I think this is a case of PWB. (Photographed while black.)

[Orrex]

34. Nezt time they should just go for the lay-up.

[Viking12]

39. ACLU of Wisconsin Condemns Student Suspension

Today, ACLU of Wisconsin executive director Chris Ahmuty issued this statement:

“It appears as if the Sheboygan Falls school district and police department are unprepared to respond to the increasing diversity in the schools in an appropriate and educationally sound manner. The ACLU will be seeking information from the schools in order to assess their compliance with pupil non-discrimination rules. The ACLU asks the district to immediately make the brothers eligible to play in tomorrow’s game. Finally, we urge the district to treat this as a “teachable moment” by providing students, teachers and parents with positive ways to respond to diversity among students.”

The ACLU works to defend First Amendment principles, such as supporting students who are expressing themselves, as well as working with schools to ensure that students feel safe and are included in their education. We would be happy to come to Sheboygan Falls and facilitate a training to that end.”

https://aclu-wi.org/media/aclu-wisconsin-condemns-student-suspension

[Viking12]

40. UPDATE - Suspensions Overturned for Sheboygan Falls Boys Basketball Players

Common Sense prevails!

SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WI (WHBL) - The suspensions for two Sheboygan Falls boys’ basketball players due to a recent picture in the Sheboygan Falls News have been overturned. Paper editor Jeff Pederson said the decision comes following an appeal hearing held Friday afternoon at the high school. This means Jordon and Jamal Jackson will not serve a one game suspension Friday evening.

The suspension was handed down after a school liaison officer noticed the two brothers had made hand gestures that looked like gang symbols in the picture. After Sheboygan Falls Police confirmed the gestures were gang symbols, the school followed their athletic code and suspended the two for the team's game against Plymouth. Police chief Steve Riffel said their investigation also determined the boys’ actions were not intended to be a gesture supporting crime or a certain gang.