SENATOBIA, Miss. — Several people who cheered for family members at a recent high school graduation ceremony are now facing charges for "disturbing the peace."
Police at Northwest Mississippi Community College, where Senatobia High School's graduation ceremony was held, said the superintendent asked the crowd not to scream and to hold their applause until the end. Linda Walker, Ursula Miller and two other people were asked to leave the ceremony because they were screaming and cheering.
"When she went across the stage I just called her name out. 'Lakaydra'. Just like that," Ursula Miller told WREG.
Miller said she was then asked to leave the graduation. A few weeks later, she was served papers.
Senatobia Municipal School District Superintendent Jay Foster filed "disturbing the peace" charges against the four people who were asked to leave graduation. Officers issued warrants for their arrests with a possible $500 bond.
"It's crazy," Henry Walker said. "The fact that I might have to bond out of jail, pay court costs, or a $500 fine for expressing my love, it's ridiculous man. It's ridiculous." . . .
http://wgntv.com/2015/06/03/warrants-issued-for-people-who-cheered-at-high-school-graduation/ (http://wgntv.com/2015/06/03/warrants-issued-for-people-who-cheered-at-high-school-graduation/)
The school in question is a "public" or municipal school; they were holding graduation ceremonies at a local university.
Rules within a public facility are just that, rules. Minus a posted sign that explains these rules and any potential legal actions resulting from violation of said rules, even with a verbal warning of the existence of said rule(s), the only action that can "legally" be taken against an individual who violates said rule is the forced removal of said individual(s). (A fact typically listed upon the tickets they hand out for these events).
If said individual(s) refused to be escorted out, and law enforcement is summoned to perform the action, then they can be charged with disorderly conduct, etc.; subjective based upon the incident in question.
An individual filing a "disturbing the peace" charge against the people in this case seems to be a civil case, and not one that should be heard within a criminal court room. Moreover, no warrant should be issued for the arrest of an individual based upon a perceived violation of civil law that does not impose physical damage upon persons or property, short of violation of a "no trespassing " regulation; which disturbing the peace certainly does not constitute.
A request for decorum is just that, a request; and minus a legal foundation for said request, it certainly seems to be at minimum an over-reach for a superintendent of a public school to file charges of disturbing the peace against private citizens who had a legal reason for being in attendance during the event in question.
Typically such charges are filed only by sworn officers of the court in such cases, so one has to question the legality of the "warrants" being issued in this case.
To me this smacks of the "good ol' boy" justice system that is prevalent within the deep south in this country. :mad: :mad: :mad:
Its either that or there are some really huge gaps surrounding the facts in this case. . .
Wow!
We just returned from attending out grandson's high school graduation in VA. It was a very nice ceremony, held at a concert venue. It was warm but we had excellent seats in a covered area and a nice breeze. The principal asked everyone to remain seated and not use air horns so everyone could see and hear every graduate as they received their diploma. This did not seem unreasonable but at least a third of the audience SCREAMED and used noisemakers, held up large signs and several used air horns frequently. People are just inconsiderate and rude. Wouldn't have them arrested, but I wouldn't have been upset if the air horns had been taken away.
That's just it Anne. You can ask people to abide by rules of decorum, but I've never been to a graduation (especially high school) where everyone complies.
I know, but I feel sorry for anyone sitting next to those people who wear a hearing aid. I just get so tired of people who have no consideration of others.
I just attended my daughter's graduation and the only notable things the parents did was to be extremely rude to a couple of the speakers by talking and making noise during their speeches. It was so bad that a few of the graduates stood up and turned around making "shush" signals. Well there was the one parent that thought she should yell her son's name throughout the entire ceremony. :rolleyes:
The students were awesome and even waiting until they got outside to toss caps.
I don't think they should go to jail, but it's annoying that adults can't behave. They ruined it for the students and other parents.
We attended our granddaughters graduation last night at NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans. Over 900 students graduated last night with over 5,000 in attendance.
More people cheered than not. So when our granddaughter walked across the stage all 25 of us did the same. 😋
No one was arrested or charged.
I know that one of the school principals here has told graduates that if family and friends get out of line that he will ask them to leave. I don't know that it has happened but he would if he had too! I think he just wants everyone to be respectful and honorable.
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on June 07, 2015, 01:07:24 PM
I know that one of the school principals here has told graduates that if family and friends get out of line that he will ask them to leave. I don't know that it has happened but he would if he had too! I think he just wants everyone to be respectful and honorable.
To me he sounds like another over educated Jerk. :doh: :haha:
Quote from: The Troll on June 10, 2015, 12:04:17 PM
To me he sounds like another over educated Jerk. :doh: :haha:
Charges were dropped. . . :yes:
Quote from: The Troll on June 10, 2015, 12:04:17 PM
To me he sounds like another over educated Jerk. :doh: :haha:
No, he is not an over educated jerk but wants parents to act like they have a modicum of decency. It may be the only graduation that some kids have, so why not be respectful and decent so people can hear the names being called and the speeches being made!
I don't know why the authoritarians don't just pick a set of societal mores and then just arrest everyone else against them and lock them up in penal colonies.
We already have the largest incarcerated population in the world - the authoritarians might as well really go for the gold. :rolleyes:
Gawd bless Amerika!
Now the previous being stated, does anyone really expect that with at least half of the population having sub 100 IQs - and so many not even graduating - to understand decorum (which is only a form of personal restraint in certain situations), much less practice it?
I didn't think so. :biggrin: