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01-14-02 Council Meeting Minutes
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01-14-02 Council Meeting Minutes
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City Council - City Clerk
City Council - Document Type
Council Mtg Minutes
City Counci - Date
1/14/2002
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REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 14, 2002 <br />that Plan Z is a good plan. However, the one thing that is necessary at this time is compromise and <br />no one is going to get everything they want in this situation. He noted that the plan has to be looked <br />at and studied very carefully in order that it makes some sense to all. Obviously, whenever there <br />is a compromise everyone has to give a little bit. <br />Mr. Melvin Reed, 3310 Dunham, South Bend, Indiana, stated that the school issue is a very dear <br />matter to him because through education he has been able to enjoy the style of life that he has. He <br />noted that he attended a small school from K -12 where all the children went to one school and <br />growing up with this diversity has enabled them to work with everyone. He noted that the decree <br />order is a standing order. In regards to trust, the Consent Agreement that was entered into was a trust <br />arrangement with the community and the school corporation in 1980. What is being asked today is <br />that that agreement be negotiated away to have less. Mr. Reed asked that the Council think about <br />the children in the community and the fact that the community is still living with the past in a lot of <br />things and the way to get the children beyond that is for them to be diverse. Separating the children <br />is not a good situation. Mr. Reed suggested that the Council watch a movie entitled "Separate But <br />Equal" in light of what the community is presently going through with this issue. <br />Mr. Jonathan Schwartz, no address given, suggested that the thing to keep in mind is that when it <br />comes to principles of human rights of which segregation and quality of education is a part there <br />truly can be no compromise. He stated that as elected public officials it is the Council's <br />responsibility to stand up for what is right regardless of who is listening. This issue is about <br />fundamental human rights and the equality of education and the fact that Plan Z would be a <br />significant step back. The progress of evil requires nothing more than that good people remain <br />silent. This is not an issue about a particular project in which two sides can compromise. The issue <br />is basic constitutional and basic human rights of which equal education is the bedrock and cannot <br />be compromised. He stated that he believes this is a sign of how far we have retreated from the <br />ideals of the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's that elected public officials can even talk <br />about compromising on things that should never be compromised. <br />Mr. Seabe Gaven, no address given, a life long resident of South Bend, stated that when he looks <br />at Plan Z and the possibility of segregating children, it is foreign to him because he grew up in <br />South Bend where he had the opportunity to play with not only children of his own race but different <br />races. Mr. Gaven wondered if this is allowed to happen where will it all end. He believes that <br />public officials have the responsibility to speak up to the issue. He noted that the community might <br />not agree with what they say but the voters need to hear from City officials because this is deeper <br />than education. This issue could divide this community in half. He further noted that there is the <br />possibility of having only one (1) high school on the west side of Michigan Street and that high <br />school will be more than ninety per cent (90 %) minority. Mr. Gaven asked if there was any trust <br />in this plan and noted that no trust has been shown. He noted that his plea to the Council is that the <br />school corporation needs to hear from them as this is a community effort. He further noted that <br />there can be no compromise on the decision that was voted 9 -0 in the Supreme Court. That is the <br />most powerful statement that can be made when the Supreme Court voted 9 -0 against segregation. <br />As a registered voter, Mr. Gaven stated that the community does need to hear from elected officials <br />and if the elected officials do not stand up for what is right then the voters need to exercise their <br />opportunity to put individuals in power that will listen to what they have to say. <br />Ms. Alethea Jones, 1319 East Victoria Street, South Bend, Indiana, noted that she listened to <br />commitments from two (2) Councilmembers but nothing from the remaining six (6) <br />Councilmembers. She stated that the silence of those Councilmembers may say more than what they <br />realize. She further stated that she recently heard a statement that a community is in trouble when <br />its elected officials will accept segregation. She noted that she was not present to say that the <br />Council is accepting segregation but that their silence says a lot. In conclusion, Ms. Jones reiterated <br />that a community is in trouble when its elected officials will accept segregation at any level and she <br />asked the Council to please keep that in mind. <br />-13- <br />
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