Racial Tensions Close Lynwood High School

Officials closed Lynwood High School two hours early Thursday after racial tensions that have rocked Los Angeles schools spilled into Lynwood. Administrators shut down the campus after students refused to return to class after lunch and some groups of belligerent black and Latino students milled around the grounds.

Sheriff’s deputies later arrested three youths on suspicion of throwing rocks at cars about half a block from the school. No one was injured during the incident, authorities said.

“We don’t really know what started it,” Board of Education President Joe T. Battle said. “We had had two or three talks with the students about what had happened in Los Angeles, and our students had assured us that nothing like that would happen in Lynwood. There were rumors of fights (Wednesday), but we can’t find the people who took part in it.”

According to students, Thursday’s trouble began brewing Wednesday in two separate racially charged fights. Although the scuffles quickly broke up, the combatants allegedly promised to settle the score Thursday, students said.

Anticipating possible trouble, authorities beefed up security for Thursday morning.

Students said there were several brief fights Thursday before tensions peaked at the noontime lunch period. None of the morning scuffles were serious enough to call in the sheriff’s deputy who works on campus, Battle said.

Administrators decided to close the school when they noticed students beginning to gather in racial groups.

“There was one group on the grounds and another on the balcony on the B building staring at each other,” Battle said. “One group was black and the other Hispanic. No words were exchanged. As the authorities came up, someone heaved a trash can.

“The can didn’t hit anyone, but that’s when the principal decided there was something building that he might not be able to control.”

Lynwood High is a tightly packed, year-round school with about 2,000 students attending classes. The student body is about 78% Latino, 20% African-American, and 2% Samoan and other ethnic groups.

Sheriff’s deputies and school district security officers supervised the 1 p.m. dismissal.

Officials promised more tight security for today’s classes. Teachers and administrators were planning to use the first class period to allow students to talk “about the incidents, racial tensions or any problems students might have in communicating with each other,” board member Rachel Chavez said.