By SHELIA BYRD
The Associated Press
JACKSON - A racial discrimination lawsuit was filed last week on behalf of six black students who were arrested after an argument on a bus that was taking the students home from an alternative school.
The American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit claims the black students, ranging from 14 to 17, were assaulted and singled out while a white girl involved in the argument was let go Aug. 12. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
The ACLU said it has a copy of a school bus surveillance video showing the incident, but would not release it to The Associated Press. The group did allow a reporter to watch it.
On camera
In it, a stocky police officer grabs a 14-year-old girl by the neck, shoves her against a bus window and says he didn't like the way she had talked to him.
Four black students are then ordered to exit the bus by the officer because he says they have smiles on their faces.
The ACLU said the students were arrested on disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace charges. The cases were sealed because they were handled in Youth Court, according to the ACLU.











