Student Forum to Discuss Local Race Relations

Student Forum to Discuss Local Race Relations

In response to last week's violent episode at a public high school, community volunteers are inviting the public to make their thoughts heard at a local forum on race relations.

Youth, students and all members of the public are encouraged to lend their voices against hate and ignorance on May 13 at Napa valley College. An evening discussion will be led by a panel of students and instructors about stopping acts of racial violence and promoting tolerance on local campuses.

Co-organizer Alex Shantz said the forum was formed after an incident Wednesday at Vintage High School. Students were suspended after burning a Mexican flag on campus and harassing Mexican students during Cinco de Mayo activities. Some of the aggressors allegedly displayed swastika signs and fighting broke out between groups of Mexican and white students.
The confrontations highlight the need for more inter-racial dialogue and better cultural understanding, Shantz said.
"There has been a lot of racial tension between the Hispanic students and a smaller minority of non-Hispanic students," he said. "We cannot continue to ignore this problem. The doors need to be opened for discussion."

Discussions will be facilitated by a seven-member panel that will include students from Vintage High, Valley Oak High, Napa High and New Tech High school. Teachers from Vintage High School and Napa Valley College will also join the discussion, as will two students from Napa Valley College.

The public will be welcomed to speak at the forum and share their thoughts, questions and suggestions on how to open racial dialogue and understanding. Translators will be available.
Organizers hope that the forum will provide an opportunity for locals to also share their feelings and frustrations and a safe, open and controlled environment.

"There seems to be a tradition of hate, ignorance and intolerance that is orchestrated every Cinco de Mayo by the same small group of students," Shantz said. "It is a very unfortunate situation and people feel that schools have not taken adequate steps to resolve this, let alone accept the fact that a racial problem exists."

The forum will begin 6 p.m. in Room 838 at Napa Valley College