There were some foolish actions taken by BOTH black & white kids in this series of incidents....and now, sides are being taken, not about what actually happened, but on 'history' and perceived attitudes.

Once Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson arrive on the scene, the issues are shoved WAY beyond whether this was "just a high school fight" or not. There should have been an IMMEDIATE effort to find who hung up those nooses, and the guilty ones suspended....and the same with the kids who attacked and beat the boy. Serious criminal charges involving 20+ years in prison are way out of line, unless more evidence than accusations are offered.

This is escalation...on both sides.