DEKALB COUNTY, Ga.,None — Parents are planning to put pressure on DeKalb County Schools to end their suspension of all marching band activity.
Parents gathered at a Decatur restaurant Thursday night to voice their concerns about their band being shut down Wednesday over concerns about hazing. Channel 2's Tony Thomas spoke to a mother who said the move could affect her son's collegiate career.
"We are glad he plays golf because we will get him in on a golf scholarship. We are not necessarily looking at a band scholarship because of the association with Southwest DeKalb and FAMU," Marvette Critney told Thomas.
Two Southwest DeKalb High School graduates are at the center of a hazing scandal that has rocked Florida A & M University. Authorities said drum major Robert Champion Jr. was killed in a band hazing incident, and Bria Hunter was left hospitalized in a separate hazing. Three people have been arrested in Hunter's case.
But Critney and other Southwest DeKalb High parents fear their children will suffer as part of the fallout.
"FAMU is not a gang, and we are not gang at Southwest DeKalb. We should stand up and stand strong. These parents feel their children and the band is being punished prematurely," parent Wendell Muhammad said.
DeKalb school leaders said the suspension came amid an investigation into "inappropriate activities" at two schools in the district. They declined to name the schools involved.
"We have to err on the side of safety that may cause hiccups, but we have to err on the side of our children," DeKalb Schools spokesman Walter Woods said.
As for Critney's son, Troy Nelson, he said he just wants to play.
"If they have to investigate on something they are not going to find, then they can waste their time doing that," Nelson said. "I want marching band back because I love playing in the band."