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Huge Brawls between Somali students and Lewiston, Maine high schoolers
Lewiston Sun Journal ^ | September 12, 2002 | Lindsay Tice

Posted on 09/12/2002 8:28:18 AM PDT by gulfwarvet

School officials fielded anxious phone calls from parents Wednesday, one day after a fight between a Somali student and another teenager broke out at Lewiston High School and turned into an afternoon melee off school grounds.

“What we’re trying to do now is assure parents that we have a very safe school,” said Principal Patrick O’Neill.

Record-setting heat and community friction have caused tensions to rise recently in the 1,250-student high school, officials acknowledged. But, said Superintendent Leon Levesque, “The school has been very calm.”

On Wednesday, disruptions to the school came not from fights but from rampant rumors about weapons and further fights following Tuesday’s brawl near Marcotte Park, in which police arrested two men, neither of whom was a Lewiston High School student.

“It’s completely consumed our day,” said Levesque.

Lewiston police patrolled the area around the high school after school let out Wednesday afternoon. There were no fights.

“Everything was very peaceful and smooth,” said the school system’s Somali community liaison, Mohammed Abdi. He expected similar patrols to continue through the week.

As scheduled, Lewiston High School students will spend this week talking about Sept. 11, its aftermath and effect on Americans’ attitudes toward Muslims and immigrants. No special assemblies or events were planned to address Tuesday’s incident.

According to O’Neill, the confrontation started when a teenager who did not attend Lewiston High School followed a Somali student into the school’s lobby and taunted him. O’Neill said he interceded as the argument became physical and the Somali boy tried to restrain the other teen.

As is school policy, O’Neill suspended the Somali student for three days for his part in the fight. He told the other teenager to leave school property or he would be arrested.

According to police, the high school fight generated a large brawl at 2 p.m. near Marcotte Park. That one involved more than four dozen people.

Levesque said the high school has worked hard to combat rumors and to ease racial tensions there since Somali immigrants began moving into the city a year-and-a-half ago. But friction within the community has begun to cause renewed tension within the school.

While Levesque couldn’t predict whether such friction would lead to more battles at or around Lewiston High School, he hoped to see community leaders identify the issues causing the most contention and come up with resolutions soon.

“I think probably we need to look at this from a community perspective,” he said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Maine
KEYWORDS: lewiston; maine; somali
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...a fight between a Somali student and another teenager broke out at Lewiston High School and turned into an afternoon melee off school grounds...

According to police, the high school fight generated a large brawl at 2 p.m. near Marcotte Park. That one involved more than four dozen people.

This is a scary situation...

1 posted on 09/12/2002 8:28:18 AM PDT by gulfwarvet
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To: gulfwarvet
There is a LOT we are not hearing in this story. I read about the Somali invasion of Lewiston a few days ago.
2 posted on 09/12/2002 8:30:45 AM PDT by hellinahandcart
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To: gulfwarvet
A non-student comes into school, harangues a student and when the student reacts, the student is suspended. As most people know I am no defender of Islame or Islamaniacs but this doesn't sound right.
3 posted on 09/12/2002 8:31:27 AM PDT by justshutupandtakeit
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To: hellinahandcart
“What we’re trying to do now is assure parents that we have a very safe school,” said Principal Patrick O’Neill.

Good luck with that...

4 posted on 09/12/2002 8:32:08 AM PDT by hellinahandcart
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To: gulfwarvet
All over the country, our children are playing out our problems. Multiculturism DOES NOT WORK.
5 posted on 09/12/2002 8:32:53 AM PDT by Hildy
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To: hellinahandcart
Keep reading. In a few days, you'll start seeing the stories about how "intolerant" the good folks up in Lewiston are of this new Imperial diversity that has been imposed upon them.

They don't have a chance against the media.

6 posted on 09/12/2002 8:33:38 AM PDT by cicero's_son
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To: justshutupandtakeit
I'm afraid this is policy in some schools.....even if a student did not start a fight, he is still suspended for "his part" in it.

In other words....I guess he is supposed to tow the liberal line and offer to sit down and talk about the situation over a nice cup o' tea.

7 posted on 09/12/2002 8:34:24 AM PDT by ZinGirl
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To: hellinahandcart
Most of these Somali immigrants are emigrating to Maine from Atlanta, Georgia. I believe there is a radio station in Atlanta advising Somalis to go to Maine where the perks are a lot better than those in Georgia. Most have lived in Atlanta for many, many years.
8 posted on 09/12/2002 8:36:21 AM PDT by scouse
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To: hellinahandcart
I read the same thing. I just want to know WHY thousands of Somali Muslims (unemployed for the most part, collecting 'benefits') have invaded one small town in Maine? When they get demographic majority there will they impose Sharia? Inquiring minds/etc. Why do we allow immigrants (legal or otherwise) to collect welfare and food stamps? We can't afford our OWN poor people, much less every body elses...
9 posted on 09/12/2002 8:36:53 AM PDT by Black Agnes
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To: ZinGirl
Yep, a friend of mine's son was jumped by a kid while at school. He fought the kid off and then took him down.
His punishment was identical to the kid who attacked him! I don't think he even threw a punch and they still suspended him!
10 posted on 09/12/2002 8:39:42 AM PDT by Skip Ripley
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To: gulfwarvet
Somali, you go now..........Deport.
11 posted on 09/12/2002 8:39:43 AM PDT by WyCoKsRepublican
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To: justshutupandtakeit
I noticed that. The student who was where he belonged got suspended, the other student who didn't belong there was "warned to leave school property or the police would be called". I would have just called the police and let them deal with the trespasser. As an incompetent principal, that sure would have helped me "assure parents that we have a very safe school".

But, this isn't the first time I've heard of students being punished for being beat up. It's part of the commie philosophy that's taken over.

I will hasten to add that it isn't crystal-clear from the article exactly what happened in the lobby or afterward.

12 posted on 09/12/2002 8:40:25 AM PDT by hellinahandcart
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To: justshutupandtakeit
I agree, something doesn't sound right here. However, it's all the more reason to be worried because this may upset the Somali community if they feel this suspension is an injustice.
13 posted on 09/12/2002 8:41:23 AM PDT by gulfwarvet
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To: hellinahandcart
Wow, this is where my ex-girlfriend lives!
This story is news to me.
14 posted on 09/12/2002 8:41:49 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: gulfwarvet
this may upset the Somali community if they feel this suspension is an injustice.

Parasites shouldn't complain too loudly about injustice, IMO. The host animal might get in a mood to swat.

15 posted on 09/12/2002 8:45:04 AM PDT by hellinahandcart
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To: gulfwarvet
“What we’re trying to do now is assure parents that we have a very safe school,” said Principal Patrick O’Neill.

The only safe public school is closed public school.

16 posted on 09/12/2002 8:45:35 AM PDT by CWRWinger
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To: Constitution Day
Wow, this is where my ex-girlfriend lives!

If you're still on good terms with her, call her up and ask if her local taxes have gone up significantly, or are about too.

17 posted on 09/12/2002 8:47:56 AM PDT by hellinahandcart
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To: scouse
I believe there is a radio station in Atlanta advising Somalis to go to Maine where the perks are a lot better than those in Georgia

STILL trying to get even with those damn yankees.

18 posted on 09/12/2002 8:52:24 AM PDT by bankwalker
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To: Skip Ripley
Every place is different, but I have heard of parents in your situation actually filing suit against the school board on the grounds that the right to self defence is not supported by such school policies.
19 posted on 09/12/2002 8:53:25 AM PDT by taxcontrol
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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