FONTANA

By Chris Levister

When Fontana senior Tiqueon Smith arrived for class on Monday the situation was markedly different than the pandemonium on Friday after hundreds of students threw rocks, bottles and fists during a lunchtime brawl.

"I'm here to pick up my nephew. He's just a freshman. I don't want him mixed up in this mess," said Smith.

Starting with the opening bell a ring of police cruisers encircled the sprawling campus. Twelve extra officers patrolled in addition to existing school police. School officials say there were no reported incidents during school hours.

Photo by Chris Levister - Classes at Fontana High School resumed on Monday under heavy police security. On Friday hundreds of students were involved in a racially-motivated brawl. Students and parents say tensions between Blacks and Latinos persist.

"I'm scared," said Anselmo Flores. I want my sons out of here I want them to go to a school that is more safe."

Waiting for his nephew Tiqueon Smith talked about the long simmering racial tensions. He said issues between Black and Latino students have been around for years.

"Consider the student makeup 78 percent Latino, 13 percent white, 7 percent Black. They the Latinos have issues with us. We have issues with them. Many of the immigrants see America is not the get rich quick open arms they'd dreamed us. They are now dealing with the inequities of immigration and discrimination. Black students know something about that. The changing student population makes for a lot of tension."

Smith says he's encouraged other Black seniors to stay out of the fray and graduate. "I told them to chill. These issues won't change overnight. They should stay to themselves and study. That said, while we have no intentions of starting trouble if we are attacked we will defend ourselves. That's a given," he said.

Latino student Jose agreed this is an old issue for a new day. "The tensions here have been allowed to fester. Now that it's gotten out of hand everybody is jumping up and down. The mayor drew a line in the sand. The city sent in more police. The school canceled all after school activities. They're going about this problem the wrong way. The problems will only get worst until we get to the root causes."

Jose says Fontana High's more than four thousand students have been broad brushed as rioters. The disruption occurred when a Latino and a Black student got into a shouting match. "This was a small group of stupid ignorant students."  Like many other students and parents Jose fears the widespread media coverage will encourage students from other schools and area gang members to start more trouble.  

Fontana school officials are looking for ways to combat racial tensions and address the safety concerns in the district. To include hosting a series of peacekeeping summits aimed at providing students a chance to air concerns and fears.

On Monday Mayor Mark Nuaimi met with student leaders to get their ideas on how to calm  tensions and avoid trouble in the future. "I think it is important that city leaders join school and community leaders in a show of support and unity." 

The problems at Fontana are not new. They are a recent phenomenon in the Inland Empire according to a school official who did not want to be identified.

"Tensions between Blacks and Latinos have been festering in schools, prisons, and on job sites in LA for decades. As the Inland area turns more brown and the competition for political representation, space and employment increases so will the violence and tension."

Gray an African-American parent who is married to a Latino says racial tensions arise and get out of hand because school officials ignore the need to address diversity. "My daughter and son have Black, Latino, white, Asian and bi-racial friends. They all get along. Parents have to play a role in changing the way these kids look at the world. We've got to teach and show them that diversity can work. We've got to deal with it head on."

District officials are satisfied the Fontana campus is safe and secure for all students. School Superintendent Jane Smith said all district schools will see increased police presence. She said several students involved in Friday's brawl will be suspended.