Safe and Happy Places
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The following article is from "The Sacramento Bee",
Friday, December 6, 2002.
Crackdown under way at Johnson High
by Erika Chavez BEE STAFF WRITER
Sacramento police officers, including members of the
Police Department's gang suppression unit, patrolled the
Hiram Johnson High School campus Thursday as angry parents
made emotional pleas for school officials to curb
escalating violence.
"This school is out of control," said Esther Rios-
Alexander, a parent and school-site council member. "Our
kids CAN'T CONCENTRATE. They're scared."
The Tahoe Park-area school is seeing a resurgence of
gang activity that has led to vicious fights in the
hallways and jittery students.
Fears boiled over Wednesday when a gang-related fight
ended up involving scores of students,
and sent one boy to the hospital with injuries,
including a concussion. Rumors of a stabbing
and imminent retaliation led many parents to keep
their children home from school Thurs-
SCHOOL, page B4
page B4 School: Parents skeptical of effort
CONTINUED FROM b1
day.
Rumors of students taking guns to school sent many
into a panic.
"I took my two girls out of school today and they're
not coming back until this is under control,"
Brenda Sanchez said.
District officials pledged to take immediate action to
stop the violence and restore a sense of safety.
"The gang members have had their moment in the sun,"
said Richard Owen, associate superintendent
for high school improvement.
"Starting tomorrow we're taking this school over."
"Until there's a sense of safety,
LEARNING CANNOT GO ON," Johnson
Principal Andre Douyon said.
Still, many students feel unsafe.
"Today I heard there were guns and I went home,"
said sophomore Robert Riggins.
"I wasn't going to stay and get shot."
Parents were skeptical that district efforts would
curb the violence immediately.
"My children still aren't coming to school Friday,"
Janis Riggins said. "I don't even understand
how it could get to this point.
It's going to take a while to change things."
OOO
The Bee's Erika Chavez can be reached at
(916)321-1083 or echavez@sacbee.com
The following article is from "The Sacramento Bee",
Saturday, December 7, 2002.
Embattled school has a quiet day
Many Johnson High students stayed home
in wake of violence
by Ralph Montano BEE STAFF WRITER
Hiram Johnson High School resembled a compound
under martial law Friday as police cars circled
the campus and almost 20 security guards
patrolled the grounds.
"You couldn't even go to the bathroom without someone
asking you a whole bunch of questions,"
said Ashley Hampel, 15.
...a large number of absences as angry parents
kept their children at home.
SCHOOL, pageB4
School: No red or blue clothing, no talking back
CONTINUED FROM B1
Fears of gang violence boiled over this week
following several fights on campus,
one of which sent a boy to the hospital with
a concussion. Rumors of planned retaliation and guns
at school had police staking out the campus...
The students' immediate reaction to the crackdown
was mixed. Some students like Hampel, who left school
early, said the security was suffocating.
"It felt like I was in prison or something,"
she said
Another student, John Davis, 17, said he
appreciates the added security. His parents kept
his younger sister at home Friday and asked him
to come home early.
"We are here to learn, not to worry about
getting beat up," Davis said.
O O O
The Bee's Ralph Montano can be reached
at 9916) 321-1909 or
rmontano@sacbee.com
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