L’Observateur / April 5, 2000

CONVENT- Twenty St. James High School protesters will face the court thismonth after being arrested n October The picketers, who were protesting the transfer of former SJH principal Ridgely Mitchell, are scheduled to go to court April 17.

April 17.

Accused of interfering with school operations, the protesters were arrested for trespassing, refusing to disperse and interrupting the educational process while they were picketing at a home football game.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Kliebert said though it has taken some time to get to the cases the court has finally been able to review the misdemeanor charges. After the review the district attorney’s officedecided to purse the trial, feeling the charges are justifiable.

The misdemeanor convictions could lead to a $500 fine or six months in jail.

U.S. District Judge Morey Sear had restricted the areas allowed for picketingin front of St. James High and limited the allowable group to 10 people.However Sear did not rule on the number of people who could protest between the road and the levee.

Sheriff Willy Martin Jr., said the protesters were putting themselves in anunsafe position and intimidating people as they passed by at the time of the arrests.

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