Bus Beating, City Hall steps up security Continuation of the school bus story.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Bus Beating, City Hall steps up security Continuation of the school bus story.

Posted: 9/17/2009 4:44:56 PM EDT

Belleville City Hall steps up security after threats over school bus attack

BY LAURA GIRRESCH - News-Democrat
BELLEVILLE –– Police Chief
William Clay has stepped up security at City Hall because threats,
stemming from the school bus attack Monday, have been phoned in to the
mayor's office, switchboard operator and clerical staff.

He said an on-duty officer was stationed at City Hall during business
hours Wednesday and will be there today. Because the officer is "on
duty," the city is not having to pay overtime.

"I think it's the right thing to do until cooler heads prevail and until we're no longer the flavor of the month or minute."

Clay said there's no specific threat the police department is guarding against.

"You've got a lot of people with strong racial animosity or beliefs,"
he said. "Some of them (the threats) I've heard played back to me, they
are racist in nature and they're threatening to do harm if certain
things are not done to protect the white man, and those kinds of
things."

He said incidents like the bus attack draw out people who "already
harbor those kinds of beliefs and feel that way. When they get an issue
they can exploit, they're going to do that."

No one has been charged in connection with the attack, which occurred
Monday morning. Police at first said it might have been racially
motivated, but later said they believe it was an example of bullying.

The school suspended seven students, and two teens, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old, face possible juvenile charges.

Mayor Mark Eckert said some angry callers change their tone and are
understanding after speaking with him. But City Hall since Tuesday has
had more than the usual number who yell, "cuss," and are "belligerent,"
he said, adding that some staff members have had to field calls "they
should not have to take."

"It's great that people can express their concerns and their
frustrations," Eckert said. "It's sad when people sometimes get so
descriptive and so angry that their messages come across as being very
threatening. Unfortunately, that's the world we live in."

Clay said he would reassess the need for an officer at City Hall today.

"I'm not overly concerned about it, but I don't take things for
granted," he said. "I think it's just prudent to be mindful, careful
until this dies down."

http://www.bnd.com/news/local/story/926749.html

Posted: 9/17/2009 5:40:46 PM EDT

[#1]

The tone of that to me was that it was whiteys fault.

Posted: 9/17/2009 5:45:55 PM EDT

[#2]

Of course it's not racially motivated now that you've got all these pissed off people calling in & raising hell.....

Posted: 9/17/2009 7:37:11 PM EDT

[#3]

Posted: 9/17/2009 8:15:16 PM EDT

[#4]

Unfortunatly, I am willing to bet that the kids that ganged up on and beat the white boy have created a person that will HATE all people of color the rest of his life. At the very least he will mistrust and avoid them. It is a sad statement but I think it very likely will be the case. Very unfortunate.

Posted: 9/17/2009 8:18:19 PM EDT

[#5]

Of course its not race related when its the white guy getting beat

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Bus Beating, City Hall steps up security Continuation of the school bus story.

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