Jump to content

Mississippi governor condemns high school band’s halftime show


LBLJ

Recommended Posts

Image result for Mississippi  high school band halftime show

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is condemning a high school band for a football halftime performance that he said was “unacceptable in a civilized society.”

Many are saying the performance Friday night by the band from Forest Hill High School depicted students dressed as doctors and nurses pointing toy guns at SWAT team members prone on the ground, WLBT-TV reported.

 

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=

While you're here . . .

The Kramer family are ready to show you a good time! BACKYARD CINEMA PC is ready to make your party memorable. Wanna show a movie in your backyard to friends, family and neighbors? USE US! Click here for more.

BSygyHU.png

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=

Bryant issued his condemnation Saturday in a tweet.

The performance was held at the high school in Brookhaven where two police officers were killed in the line of duty Sept. 29 responding to a call of shots fired, the station reported

Brookhaven’s mayor said the band director was placed on administrative leave, the station reported.

Reports said the performance was based loosely on the movie “John Q,” in which a father played by Denzel Washington takes patients at a hospital hostage in order to secure treatment for his son.

The band’s performance does not depict the values and people in our community, and was incredibly insensitive to the students, families, law enforcement officials and the entire Brookhaven community,” Jackson superintendent Errick Greene said.

He also apologized.

The mayor of Jackson Chokwe Lumumba also released a statement.

“I offer my sincerest regrets to the Brookhaven community for the insensitivity portrayed during the Friday evening halftime show. There is an active investigation into the circumstances that led to this performance," he said, according to the station.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A Mississippi high school marching band has sparked outrage with a halftime performance that depicted SWAT team members being held at gunpoint – one week after two police officers were killed in the line of duty in a nearby town.

Several members of the Forest Hill High School band were pictured supposedly reenacting a scene from a movie, while the rest of the band played at halftime of a game against Brookhaven High School:

 
The Forest Hill High School band’s performance. (Screenshot: Facebook)

Brookhaven was the city in which two officers were shot last week. The timing of the halftime performance led many to criticize the band, and prompted responses from local officials. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety said in a statement that it was “extremely disturbed.”

The Forest Hill band director has reportedly been placed on administrative leave while the school district investigates the matter.

School, government officials respond

Jackson Public Schools superintendent Errick L. Greene released a statement Saturday, in part to apologize, and in part to explain the performance:

 

“On behalf of the Jackson Public School (JPS) District, I want to offer my deep and sincere apologies for the performance by the Forest Hill High School band during Friday’s football half-time show in Brookhaven. Based loosely on the movie, “John Q,” the band’s performance depicted a hostage scene that included toy guns.

 

JPS has a great deal of respect and appreciation for our law enforcement partners. The band’s performance does not depict the values and people in our community, and was incredibly insensitive to the students, families, law enforcement officials and the entire Brookhaven community. For this we sincerely apologize to all, and we pledge to do better in the future.

 

We have taken some initial actions in response to this matter, and you have my commitment that we will investigate it fully and take additional appropriate action with respect to procedures and personnel.”

 

The mayor of Jackson, Miss., Chokwe Lumumba, released a statement as well:

 

 “I offer my sincerest regrets to the Brookhaven community for the insensitivity that portrayed during the Friday evening halftime show. There is an active investigation into the circumstances that led to this performance. While I do not believe that there was a malice intent on behalf of the students that participated in this halftime show, I understand that we are ultimately not defined by the things that we set out to do, but rather how we respond to the things that actually do take place. It is the responsibility of adults to offer guidance to youth. Our students should have been instructed that this was neither the time or place for that performance.”

 

Mississippi governor Phil Bryant called the performance “unacceptable,” and tweeted that “someone should be held accountable.”

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...