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SHOREWOOD, Wis. (WISN) — Fallout over Shorewood High School’s planned production of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ continued Wednesday night when a man interrupted a news conference led by the Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee.
The group was holding the conference initially to voice its support for students who were targeted in a social media threat with violence and use of the N-word. Shorewood Police announced earlier Wednesday investigators had taken a 17-year-old into custody in connection to the threat.
“Doesn’t matter if he’s seventeen or he’s seventy. He said it. He shouldn’t have said it. It’s a racist statement. How dare you call our children that?” asked King Rick, who is the leader of the Black Panthers.
The use of the N-word sparked controversy in recent weeks as the production had been planned to go on as scheduled with the original script and usage of the slur. However, protests were planned and the school district cancelled the public performance of the play.
“I understand the background of the lay. But for them not to tell us they were going to be using that language — the N-word in the play, beforehand, before even starting it — that’s what really started all the controversy,” student Jerry Hardin said earlier in the day.
The play was later scheduled to only be presented to relatives of the cast and crew, but that production was also cancelled.
“To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic. I’ve read it. I saw the movie. Now, if our children are not comfortable with the N-word, then they should be listened to,” Rick said Wednesday night.
When Rick criticized school leadership over its handling of the production and the backlash, a man, who only identified himself as Chris, interrupted the news conference.
King Rick: It’s not about color, it’s about what’s right and what’s wrong. That’s what it’s about.
Chris: Let the kids do the play. That’s what’s right.
King Rick: Okay. You need to talk to the school board about that. I didn’t have anything to do with that. Go tell them that.
Chris: You definitely had something to do with that.
King Rick: And who are you? My point exactly.
Chris: No, I just didn’t want to be on the camera, okay? Thank you.
King Rick: Do you know me?
Chris: Let’s have a discussion about it.
King Rick: Do You know me? Do you know me? Do you know me?
Chris: I don’t have to know you.
King Rick: Yeah, you do. Because if you did, you wouldn’t be saying what you’re saying. It wasn’t up to us for the play to be done, it was up to the school board.
Chris: Let them do it. (walks away)
King Rick: Sounds like you’ve been drinking to me. Looks like it too.
After the news conference, Chris said the original script of the play should spark a healthy discussion and not division.
The Illinois company which owns the copyright of the play confirmed, “No cutting or changes are permitted” to the script.
Shorewood School District Superintendent Bryan Davis said he took responsibility for not engaging the community and starting the conversation over the play and its content much sooner.
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