Four Black Students Suffer From Another Katrina Race-Related Injustice

Hattiesburg, MS (BlackNews.com) - William Carey College, a predominantly white Southern Baptist private school, has recently wrongfully expelled four black students for using an electric generator during the Presidentially-declared disaster.

Immediately following Katrina, several students of the college were stranded due to road blockage, gas shortage, or distance from their homes. A student went into a maintenance shed that had been ripped open by high speed winds and made use of a generator that remained on the campus.

This reportedly helped students recharge and use their cell phones while the land lines were down as well as give them lights at night. The men's dorm lobby, where the generator was being used, also became a safe haven of sorts for some of the remaining female students.

As the days passed and roads and gas became more available, the only students that remained were those whose homes were out of state, overseas, or destroyed. This small group consisted of three William Carey basketball players and one former player as well as others.

Senior Jeremy Irby, Junior Marvin Flemmons, Senior Dante Hardy, and Junior Jeremiah Blackwell were all expelled for using the generator that many students participated in using including school staff. They were told and given written notice that they were being expelled for conduct that was contrary to the schools handbook and there was not to be any appeal nor could they return to campus as visitors. This action itself was against school policy.

The students were escorted off campus by police with armed military personnel and had to immediately take with them all of their belongings with no place to go. No other students were expelled or repremanded. When asked what their plans were Marvin Flemmons replied, "We are looking for legal representation and we want our story to get out so this does not happen to anyone else."

IF YOU CAN PROVIDE LEGAL HELP AND/OR ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE OR WANT TO SHOW SUPPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:

Dante Hardy

118 College Drive #8177

Hattiesburg, MS 39406

mdantehardy AT yahoo DOT com

601-297-4365