School Apologizes After Banning Reporter from Game

A Clark County School is apologizing to the local newspaper Monday after banning one of its reporters at the Homecoming game.

The Winchester Sun says the Principal at George Roger's Clark High School would not allow a reporter in the press box because he didn't like an article the newspaper ran that day.

That story was about four white students, at George Roger's Clark, who gave a black student a racially charged note, according to Ronda Hopewell, the mother of the student who received the note. The note depicts a white person whipping a black person, it also shows a noose and includes racial statements like "the south will rise again." The banned journalist says reporting the news is their job and the action Principal Gordon Parido took was shocking.

"I get a phone call saying, you're banned from the press box tonight and I said you're kidding right? He said no Mr. Parido doesn't want you to be in the press box," [sports editor Keith] Taylor explained.

"I said why? and I was told well the story in the paper, he didn't like it very well," Taylor said.
Since banning the reporter the paper says Parido has called to apologize. While relations seem to be smooth again between the school and the newspaper, Hopewell says she is still dissatisfied with the school district's response to the incident.

This from WTVQ.

George Rogers Clark student receives racial note

A 16-year-old black student at George Rogers Clark High School says he received a threatening, racially-charged note at school two weeks ago, and four white students were arrested Wednesday, charged with terroristic threatening in the incident, according to one of their mothers.

Ronda Hopewell, the mother of the black student, Deonte Skinner, says she is shocked something like that would happen in 2007.

“I can’t believe there is still prejudice around here,” Hopewell said. “I saw on the news where a student got a threatening letter, but here in Winchester? I couldn’t believe that.”

In the note were two crude drawings that depicted someone, possibly Deonte, being whipped and lynched, an image of the Confederate flag, and a scribble that his mother says is his grave.
The note also includes the phrases “The south will rize again” and “I had a dream white power.”
But Lois Cotton, mother of one of the boys charged with the crime, said her son was arrested over a drawing that was altered. She said all four boys admitted to drawing the pictures, but names and words were added later.

They were suspended for three days. Cotton said Winchester Police arrested the boys during school Wednesday.

“I agree that they did need (to be) suspended for the drawings,” Cotton said. “I didn’t complain one bit about that, and I wouldn’t have complained if they got the full 10 days (suspension).”
Cotton also said her son and the others were questioned without their parents present. She said she is considering a civil suit against school administrators...

This from the Winchester Sun.