Jackson Jambalaya

And he's right.

You would have to hold a gun on me in order for me to hold a gun on an officer during a halftime show. Judging from the footage, that clearly didn't happen...unless Forest Hill had snipers on the roof somewhere.

Bookhaven Mayor's tone and opinion certainly has changed in the last week. His statement the day following sounded totally different; guess 'the community' got to him and reminded him of his electorate.

These young people will be fine not getting to perform for the rest of the season. Sheesh. Young people MUST feel consequences for their actions or they WILL repeat them. Plus it gives them a learning experience in how to use good judgment and of when to speak up when they think something might be wrong. These teens are now being used as political pawns by the adults. Does anyone in Mississippi give a damn about their education and character development? Joe Cox should be run out of town for pandering to the lowest base tendencies of a bunch of angry, misinformed citizens - oh, and race hustling.

Class act. He should run for governor

These comments make MHSAA and Phil Bryant look like the dicks they really are

As the old saying goes, "cooler heads prevailed"...

What do you expect....dumbazz non-swimming DIM-O-KRATS.

All of them useless and nothing but dregs on society!

I hope the MHSAA gives them the finger and upholds the decision.

These people need to learn there are consequences to stupid decisions.

4:38 Like you give a damn about "their education and character development".
Pleeeeese. The mayor of Brookhaven, the MHSAA and some of his fellows can and should go to Forest Hill and explain to these kids WHY they were placed on probation in the first place and what responsibility is all about. Firm but fair is appreciated by every community, even the "hellhole" of Jackson. This will teach these kids something that some people cannot comprehend, that right and wrong are not about color. Real education.

5:51 thanks Phil bryant

Did the kids do anything to try to stop this?? For instance, the band officers should have talked to the band director about this and explained that it was wrong. If that didn't work they should have at least gone to the principal. I don't expect them to go to the supt. of education or school board like adults would, but at a minimum tell the band director and principal that you disagree.
If the just followed along and did what they were told, they deserve suspension. They are old enough to know better.

I thought the band director was suspended/fired and the band suspended for the content of the skit being a clear violation of JPS rules, not because of the unfortunate location and context in which it was performed. If so, then the mayor really doesn't have standing to offer "victim's forgiveness" as to mitigation because the rules were the "victims" of the violation, not the people in the audience. Put another way, had this "skit" been performed in location where it had no particular recent relevance, it still would have been a violation of the rules and those involved subject to the same penalties. However, that it not to say that the band should or should not be penalized, only that the mayor of Brookhaven has "no dog in that fight."

Please 5:51, elaborate on how you know that the democrats can't swim...

The band director claimed he did not know about the shootings until after the show -- if this is so then he would have no reason in his mind to cut the skit. And while we are at it, what in the world does performing skits have to with band music? These kids are supposed to play music and at most do drills, not put on skits -- that is for the drama department. And when was the last time we ever saw the JSU and ASU bands (definitely the bst) perform skits at the halftime show? What value is given to someone wanting a band scholarship by having irrelevant skits performed at halftime? Play music, do drills, and leave the stage acts to others...

Bad behavior, regardless of motive or intent, often has consequences. Well, maybe not often; but, yes, in this case, it does. And should.

"Momma, how come I'm grounded for a week, Dad is the one who told me it's ok to stand out in the front yard and pee and wave at cars?"

"Dad is also being punished, Rollo, you are ten years old and knew better...now, back to your room!"

@6:24 Agreed! Suspension should remain as a learning experience, and the leaders should clearly explain the WHY behind it. Real education! Hear. Hear.

5:51 pm You are a racist.


You have painted every kid in the band with a racial pejorative ( showning contempt for an entire race of people since I doubt you know the word " pejorative).


The band members have talent enough to play a musical instrument and read music. I doubt you have any talents and that's probably why you are such a miserable SOB that you have to look down on others to feel good about yourself.


That you even imagine that high school students without adult advisors make the decisions about school organized programs makes me question if you ever made it to high school. If you did, you weren't in any activity programs. Which I'm pretty sure mean you were the dumbass.

7:08 - Your post was two hours ago. Are you OK by now?

and the MOB continues to march

5:45, Are you saying the teachers at JPS do not have the ability to explain and teach the difference in right and wrong? It should be the teachers working in JPS job to teach and explain to their students. That is what they were hired to do and what they are paid to do.

We can easily see that the teachers of JPS do not have the ability or knowledge to teach their students right from wrong. If they did the kids would not be in the shape they are in. Quit demanding teachers and people in other areas teach JPS students when their own teachers fail them.

If the JPS teachers can not do their job get rid of them and hire some that can do the job.

Wait, It's the teacher's job to teach morals? What school did you go to, 9:57?

Let the band play. But fire the hell out of the director AND the principal

12:05, I didn't go to any school in Mississippi. It would surprise you what they teach in other states. Of course it will take years before Mississippi catches up with what schools in other states taught many years ago. Remember, Mississippi is on the bottom of the list. Morals is not the only thing they do not teach. Math, reading, writing could be added to the list.

"Morals is not the only thing they do not teach."

If you are going to bash Mississippi schools for their shortcomings, you should probably make sure that it's not painfully obvious that your school failed to teach you: to avoid using double negatives in a sentence, how to properly use commas, how to correctly use the word "morality," and how to use "and" to conclude a list, etc.

I'm usually not a grammar nazi, but your post invited that reaction.

I'm with 12:08, but the kids *should* bear some pain in this. They're not preschoolers and are supposed to be young emerging (and thinking) adults who should have known better...

2:52, I have been living in Mississippi for about 30 years. I have learned how to speak the language here. But you can bet your ass that I knew better than to bring a gun to school then blame everyone else for my foolishness.

This is not up to the Mayor, this is the Governor's call. Get em, Phil!

WTF does the governor have to do with any of this? Um, nothing. Ignert

Something that has dawned on me is the question of what punishment fits the individual’s actions. Does student A playing the trombone deserve the same punishment as student B in the scrubs? I can see how this is directly tied to the shootings of the LEOs, but I also believe what’s being lost in translation is how this display had the potential to endanger students, staff, and those in the audience. Thankfully it didn’t escalate to that point. Based on the report that classes aren’t being conducted in the band hall due to fear it’s a valid conclusion.

This is how the punishment should be weighed based on involvement.