Racial Tension Leads to 19 Arrests at NC School Board Meeting

19 people were arrested at a school board meeting in North Carolina after protestors clashed with police. The passionate activists were there to express their displeasure with a new busing system that would reverse the district's desegregation policies.

Under the new policy, students from underprivileged neighborhoods would no longer be bused to schools in better neighborhoods. Now students will be required to attend schools in their own neighborhood.

Opponents of the new system argue that it’s a form of segregation that existed in North Carolina until the late 1960s. It will place a larger number of white students in more affluent schools, while black students will be forced to attend schools in less fortunate areas.

"We know that our cause is right," said Reverend William Barber who was arrested along with a crowd that held up signs that read, "Segregate equals hate" and "History is not a mystery, Separate is always unequal."

While the rally drew close too 1,000 people outside, it only took 12 protestors to disrupt things on the inside who interrupting the meeting by chanting and singing. Things got physical when police came in to break up the scene and the pushing and pulling spilled into the street.

Wake County School Board member Ron Margiotta maintains that the new policy is not intended to segregate the students, but "provide choice and increased stability for families."

"This board does not intend to create high poverty or low-performing schools," he said to scoffs from the crowd. Reverend Barber sees it otherwise.

"Too many prayers were prayed," Barber said. "Too many lives were sacrificed. Too much blood was shed. Too many tears were shed. We can't turn back now."

George Ramsay, a white student who was formerly student body president of Enloe High School, is in favor of keeping the diversity policy in place.

"It is shortsighted to ignore the way students like me have been enriched by diversity," Ramsay told NPR.com.