Root of Anti-Asian Violence at South Philly High Remains

While new security cameras and more security officers has tamped down some of the tension at South Philly High School, the fundamental issues around school violence remain unresolved. Asian American students, dozens who were assaulted last December, have targeted adults - the school administration - for neglecting the problem that has existed for years.

Philadelphia schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has taken little responsibility Instead of apologizing immediately and moving quickly to defuse the tensions and correct the problem, Ackerman has mostly dodged responsibility and shifted the blame.

As a local columnist has noted, it took her eight days to get around to visit the high school after the attacks and six days to issue a public response. She also showed up uninvited at a meeting called by the state Human Relations Commission to hear from members of the Asian American community, bringing along a busload of kids from South Philadelphia High, primarily African American and uninvolved in the fights. In her recent op-ed in the local paper entitled, "It's Everyone's Problem," Ackerman merely nodded at the incident and shifted blame to "a larger social phenomenon, inextricably woven into the fabric of our society." While racism and aggression is ingrained in society, looking primarily at this issue evades her administration's responsibility to make schools safe and to promote constructive race relations. The school administration is clueless about how to respond to these attacks on Asian American students and quite probably to others students too.

The students and communities continue to organize. The lastest action is a Martin Luther King Day rally beginning at the School District Building to call for an end to all forms of violence. The event is sponsored by a number of groups including the Philadelphia Student Union, Asian Americans United, Boatpeople SOS, and Germantown Clergy Initiative.