New Castle NAACP protests the use of names in drug forum

One person complained that only black people were named by the U.S. attorney.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Members of the New Castle NAACP are protesting a drug forum held earlier this week at Ben Franklin Junior High School.
Evelyn Ward, president of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, read a letter at Wednesday's New Castle Board of Education meeting chiding officials who participated in the meeting.
The program was organized by New Castle Mayor Wayne Alexander and included U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart of Bradford Woods, R-4th, U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan and James Harper of the Pittsburgh office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
Eighth-graders and the public were in the audience.
"We, the executive board of the NAACP and concerned community members, were highly angered by the inappropriate use of names of those involved in these activities in the presence of our schoolchildren," Ward read from the statement. "Children are not responsible for the actions of adults and should not be subject to the humiliation and ridicule that they have received from others as a result of comments of inconsiderate public officials."
Attorney gave names
Buchanan talked about several high-profile cases her office has prosecuted in New Castle and gave the names and prison sentences of those involved.
Eleanor Richardson of the NAACP, who was not present at the forum, said she was offended because all of those named were black. She said no names should have been used.
Ward added that several of the pupils were related to those named during the assembly.
Schools Superintendent George Gabriel read an apology letter during Wednesday's school board meeting.
He said he was unaware that people would be named during the assembly.
"Any remarks which may have caused concern or have been offensive in any way to students, family and the community are in no way endorsed by the New Castle Area School District," he said.
Gabriel said he was told it was to be a general overview of efforts to fight drug-related crimes and a rehabilitation program.
Ward said she believes each person who participated in the assembly should make a public apology.
cioffi@vindy.com