Teen suspended after discussing racial tension at Blount school

Teen suspended after discussing racial tension at Blount school

April 25, 2005

BLOUNT COUNTY (WATE) -- The parents of a student at William Blount High School say their daughter was suspended after she told 6 News that racial tensions have continued after spring break. [ tension continues ]

On April 6, police and administrators locked the school down after finding a hit list and racial graffiti on the walls. [ school locked down ]

On April 18th, Bridget O'Neill, a junior, told 6 News one of her classmates made a racial sign.

Her parents say the next morning, the principal pulled Bridget into the office demanding to know why she talked to the media and who made the sign.

"She was screaming at her she was stupid," says Bridget's mother, Diane O'Neill. "They threatened to expel her for the rest of the year because she wouldn't give the name. Then she threatened to call the police. And she was like, 'why?' She said, 'Well, I'm going to have you arrested for standing in the way of justice.'"

The school sent home a letter about Bridget's suspension. It never mentioned her interview with 6 News but said she was suspended for disrupting the classroom and providing false information about the sign.

6 News was unable to reach the principal and a school spokeswoman for comments on why Bridget was suspended.

The school is holding a hearing about Bridget on Thursday.