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Nov 20, 2009 5:45 pm US/Central
Some Students Still Not Feeling Safe After Fight
(WCCO)
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Tensions been high since a fight broke out on Monday between white and Somali students.
CBS
Owatonna High School has added police patrols to try to make students feel a little safer in class.
Tensions been high since a fight broke out on Monday between white and Somali students.
It all started after a white student wrote an offensive blog about Somalis. He was suspended -- but that didn't end the controversy.
"There are cops everywhere. I'm not even kidding, at every entrance, every little hallway," said Nasteho Adan. "They won't even let us sit where we sit because they think we're going to fight or something."
Four police cars were outside the school Friday. The superintendent said security is being beefed up until things quite down.
With all the added security, you'd think students would feel safe. But one student said she fears retaliation.
"I'm very afraid. There's been kids talking about how the Somalians are saying that things are just beginning and it's not over yet," said one student. "The teachers are saying that we're safe, but there's policeman everywhere and bag checks are everyday now. And if we're safe why is that all still happening?"
"People are saying 'we don't feel safe' and stuff like that, and it's kind of ridiculous. We're not those kinds of people that would just come and start stuff out of nowhere," said Leyla Mohamud.
There were actually two blogs over the past couple of weeks that made bad remarks about Somalis. One of them said Somalis got special treatment because of their religion.
"The whole prayer thing is mandatory. We do it all the time, said Adan.
From day one we've been wearing our scarves. When did it all of the sudden become and issue?" asked Mohamud.
The racial tension can also be seen in the reader comments on a local newspaper website.
"Those comments are ridiculous. There are adults on there attacking us, like teenagers. Why are they doing that? I don't understand," said Mohamud.
"The kids are reflecting what the parents are talking about and they learn from their parents," said Richard Leidall, who has two kids who attend the high school.
The school's superintendent said he hopes to hold some community talks soon.
Sonya Goins, Producer
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