Muir BSU Hosts Forum on Police and Race

In line with the nationwide outcry over the killing of African-American males by police officers in Ferguson, MO, New York City and elsewhere the John Muir High School Black Student Union (BSU) organized a forum to address interactions between police and minority communities. A capacity crowd of students and faculty filled the Frank R. Walkup Library on the Muir campus for a panel discussion with the Pasadena Police Department’s two top-ranking officers, Chief Phillip Sanchez and Deputy Chief Darryl Qualls. The panel also included Pasadena NAACP president Gary Moody, attorney Joe Hopkins, Muir history teacher Manuel Rustin and Muir senior Shaka Terry.

Also in attendance at the Muir BSU forum: John Muir High School principal Tim Sippel, PUSD Superintendent Dr. Brian McDonald, PUSD Board member Tyron Hampton and a sizable delegation from the Pasadena Police Department including Lt. Tracey Ibarra (adjutant to Chief Sanchez), Lt. Cheryl Moody (Regional Vice-President for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives), and retired Lt. Rodney D. Wallace.

Explaining the objective of the forum, Black Student Union faculty adviser Roland Bynum stated, “The students originally wanted to stage a walkout, as called for in a widely circulated social media message. But we decided that a conversation directed toward constructive action would have a greater long term benefit.”

John Muir High School, 1905 Lincoln Ave., Pasadena, (626) 396-5600 or visit muir.pasadenausd.org.