thedailytimes.com : Your 24/7 news source

KNOXVILLE — Did Blount County school officials do enough to defuse William Blount High School's alleged hostile racial environment prior to a school lockdown on April 6, 2005?

This is the question that eight jurors will deliberate this week in a civil case being heard in U.S. District Court here.

The lawsuit alleges three former William Blount High School students -- Brittney Cleveland, Markiya Morrison and Vincent Morrison -- were subjected to actions that violated their constitutional rights and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Much of the trial's first day of testimony revolved around bathroom graffiti, racial slurs and threats of violence during the 2004-2005 school year. "The bulk of this case is racial discrimination," explained attorney Michael Shipwash, who is representing the plaintiffs, in his opening statement.

Shipwash outlined a list of events that started with a fight between three Caucasian students and three African-American students -- including Markiya Morrison and Cleveland -- in December 2004 and culminated with the lawsuit being filed on Aug. 4, 2005. Notable events on this timeline include:

— A racial fight at a basketball game on Feb. 22, 2005.

— An alleged hit list found on March 23, 2005.

— An incident in which a white student allegedly tried to run over Cleveland.

— A school lockdown on April 6, 2005 after a student threatened to shoot several students.

The bulk of exhibits for the plaintiffs and defendant -- the Blount County Schools -- featured photographs of inflammatory racial slurs including an alleged hit list written on a bathroom stall.

"The biggest thing I had to deal with in high school was whether a bathroom stall was without a door. These students were going to the restroom and seeing this," said Shipwash, referring to the graffiti. "They went to school trying to learn, and this is what they had to deal with."

School officials defended

Defense attorney LaJuana Atkins, however, contended in her opening statement that Blount County school officials did react to student-on-student racial harassment.

"If you're in high school, it's all about drama and trauma," she said. "Everything is (larger-than-life). Parents had a distorted perception of events. The photos were enlarged just as the plaintiffs' perceptions were enlarged. This was an issue of two groups fighting with each other, not just physically and verbally, but on bathroom walls. The issue is how the school district reacted when they found out about (the problems at William Blount)."

School officials were acting with diligence and investigating various racial incidents prior to the 2005 lockdown, she said. "The school district cannot be held liable for harassment done by students. They can't be held liable because they didn't meet the expectations of parents. They can't be held liable because they did not eradicate racism."

Parents testify

Shipwash then called the plaintiffs' witnesses. John and Connie Cleveland told jurors how they reacted when their daughter, Brittney Cleveland, told them she was subjected to racial slurs every day and had been named on an alleged hit list. The Clevelands spoke with officials in the Blount County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, NAACP and Blount County Schools.

"I just wanted to get somebody to listen to me that there really was a problem (in the school)," said John Cleveland. "It's like they heard me, but they didn't hear me," he explained about his conversations with school officials.

"I expected the graffiti and name calling to stop," said Connie Cleveland. "I love (my daughter) very much. I hate to see her hurt. I was tore up about this whole thing. I feel like how Blount County reacted on this case was because of our race."

"There are always two sides to every story," said Patricia Johnson, grandmother and legal guardian of Markiya and Vincent Morrison. "I know my children -- I know when they're lying to me or when they're stretching the truth. Students have to be in a safe environment conducive to learning. It didn't happen for our children."

She only filed the lawsuit after she lost faith in the Blount County school system, said Johnson. "I wanted to shake it up. I want to do something with the mindset of the community and the people in charge. This must not be allowed to continue," she said.

None graduated

None of the three students graduated from William Blount High School. Brittney Cleveland finished the 2005-2006 school year at the school. The Clevelands then decided to home school their daughter after a disciplinary action concerning a nose piercing on the first day of the 2006-2007 school year. She went on to attain a General Educational Development (GED) degree.

Markiya Morrision transferred out of Blount County's school system during the 2005-2006 school year. She graduated from Knoxville's West High School. Vincent Morrison was expelled from Blount County Schools for the 2005-2006 school year, and he is currently studying to earn his GED degree.

The trial continues today and is expected to run all week.