The senior class president barred from his high school graduation because of reported death threats said yesterday that he would go along with a plan to deliver his commencement speech by video feed tonight because he doesn't want to spoil the ceremony by attending.Based on this story, there is only one person acting like an adult here, and that is Tyrone Lewis.
"I understand that some kids would take themselves out" of the event at the Truman High School stadium if he came, as he would still like to, Tyrone Lewis said.
"For me to show up and then lose 20 people - I couldn't do that," he said in an interview at his Bristol Township home. "I just took myself out. I'm just one person; I did it for my classmates. That's the right thing to do. I didn't want to spoil anyone's moment."
Still, Tyrone and his mother said that they wanted it clearly understood: They don't believe the rumors being cited by police and complain that the authorities have not answered their request for specifics.
"I still believe it's all been a big lie against my son," said Marlene Lewis, Tyrone's mother. "I've never felt it was true." She declined to speculate on why the authorities are taking the reports so seriously.
Bristol Township Police Chief James McAndrew continues to maintain that there is a real possibility of retaliation against the Lewis family at the graduation either by members of a Trenton gang that Tyrone Lewis' sister Rachael was involved with or by friends of Bristol resident Anton Cofield, who was allegedly killed by one of the gang leaders.
But Mr. Lewis shouldn't have to act like this, to decline not to appear at his own graduation. The school, the local police and if necessary the Pennsylvania State Police or National Guard should be present to protect this young man and his classmates on a day they have every reason to celebrate.
What this story is saying is that gangs run the Bucks County School system, not adults. Assuming the threat is credible (and I have no reason not believe it to be credible), why haven't the police done anyting to prevent any potential attack? Why not provide tighter security at the graduation event? Here is what security is being provided:
"We have to act like whoever is saying that mean what they say," he said. The "extraordinary measures" police are taking - including barring Lewis, using metal detectors at the graduation, and planting plainclothes officers in the crowd - are "to make everybody safe," [Bristol Township Police Chief James McAndrew] said. (emphasis added)At a time when thousands of schools required their students to walk through metal detectors to go to school, how is using detectors at a graduation extraordinary.
One argument about not cowing to terrorists (and that is what gangs are, domestice terror groups) is that to do so gives them a win. The best thing that could happen here is that Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and other elected officials tell the local and state police to buck up, arm up and get the protection this kid deserves so that he, the class president, can deliver a speech at his own graduation.
To Tyrone Lewis, well done sir. Your sacrifice is commendable, but unnecessary. Congratulations on your success, past and future, and I hope that you can deliver your speech in person.
To the Bucks County Schools, Police and elected officials. You rampant bunch of cowards deserve to be removed from office for letting a bunch of punks, thugs and terrorists to determine policy. You have all, each and every one of you failed to lead effectively and to teach right from wrong. To the police especially, your job is to protect and serve. To Protect, means to protect everyone, including Tyrone Lewis, to allow everyone to go about their lives in peace and security and if you think the threat is real, then by God, you need to do something about the threat, not about Tyrone Lewis. Do you job, or Bucks County needs to find someone who can.
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