Seventeen people died in the Parkland, Florida school massacre a little over one year ago. In the aftermath of colossal screw-ups by school administrators and shameful members of Broward County law enforcement, you would think that Broward County officials would work to ensure that Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school would serve as a beacon of safety and security. Not so much as recent videos show.
Andrew Pollack lost his daughter Meadow in the horrific attack by a known threat to the school. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to hold those responsible accountable. A couple of days ago, he posted a video of a violent fight in one of the school’s courtyards. The response by school officials, as you will see in the video, proved far less than vigorous.
I sent my daughter to this school thinking she’d be safe.
She never came home.
Watch this brutal fight at the same school a year later.
Because of this incompetent school district, I have to live without my daughter for the rest of my life. #fixit pic.twitter.com/lHyjrDXj0V
— Andrew Pollack (@AndrewPollackFL) February 26, 2019
According to Local10, police arrested four students in the melee.
Four students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were arrested Tuesday after a fight broke out on the campus, authorities said.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office said the students were treated for minor injuries.
Security at the Parkland high school has been heightened since 17 people were killed in a mass shooting on Feb. 14, 2018. However, parents and students have continued to urge the district to improve its security and discipline policies, saying more needs to be done.
Here’s another view of the scrum.
Meanwhile…this morning at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. #MSDStrong? Are your kids safe in @browardschools? #FixIt pic.twitter.com/IQ1OzQf5oH
— Ryan Petty (@rpetty) February 26, 2019
Instead of worrying about the safety of over three thousand decent students trying to get an education without worrying about getting attacked by violent punks, school officials in the past would worry about the four arrestees becoming part of an alleged ‘school-to-prison pipeline’. Ignoring the fact that some people can’t comply with society’s basic laws and belong in the criminal justice system is dangerous.
As risk consultant Dr. William Aprill says, these violent criminal actors come from a world where they have nothing but the “prestige of violence.” They will risk everything for nothing. Violent performances lead to more prestige. Even if they lose a confrontation, they gain prestige because they didn’t back down. Even if they beat down an otherwise helpless person, it adds to their prestige among peers.
Just another reason good people should “Think hard. Train hard. Be dangerous.” Because nobody has your interests at heart more than you do.
