The New Majority: Bringing Houston's minority groups together with a unified Voice

"I have a history of asthma and a scarred lung," said Mr. Harris. "He also kicked my legs apart and I complained about my foot feeling numb and when I tried to balance myself, Officer Herdon continued to kick me. He told me not to move when I wasn't moving at all." An e-mail from AISD says "Mr. Pickens was there the entire time, along with the college's police officer. Both men say no abuse took place."

Mr. Harris says Officer Herdon violated the illegal search and seizure clause of the 4th amendment in the U.S. Constitution. "Officer Herdon had neither a warrant nor a probable cause to search me," said Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris said Mr. Pickens and Officer Herdon allowed him to wait for his mother at Carver High School in the same car drive-up area where Mr.

Pickens first told Mr. Harris and two other classmates they would have to leave minutes before. "That's one of the reasons why I'm so upset," said Ms. Ford. "If George was in violation of school policy when he was waiting outside for me the first time, then why would they let him wait for me on the same curve he was sitting on before?" When it was suggested to Mr. Harris the entire episode may have never taken place if he had simply put his necklace in his pant pockets when Mr. Pickens first asked him to, Mr. Harris said Mr. Pickens request was not valid. "I was not violating school policy. Students wear necklaces all the time.

The entire day I wore that necklace outside my pants and no one said anything to me. I was talking to an assistant principal and he didn't say anything. I was with my teachers all day and none of them said anything. I did nothing wrong," said Mr. Harris.

An e-mail from AISD said in Mr. Pickens' "opinion, a necklace is worn around the neck and it was not in this instance."

According to page 101 of AISDs' discipline management portion of the parent/student handbook "Students are…prohibited from bringing onto school property…any…weapons…

Weapons include...

a. Fireworks of any kind
b. Clubs or nightsticks
c. Razors
d. Metallic knuckles
e. Chains

Mr. Keeney said AISD may have to clarify the differences between a necklace and chain. "But you have to understand that since Columbine we are so security conscious.

We have to be careful for our children's safety," said Mr. Keeney.

HONOR ROLL TEEN SUSPENDED FOR DISPLAYING WHAT AISD SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY IS A WEAPON
By Paul Fitzgerald Bennett

A Houston mother is upset after the 2-day suspension of her son in April from an Aldine Independent School District high school for displaying what she insists was a necklace on his pants. "This is something which should have never happened," said Sammie Ford. "I feel like they are just picking on him."

George Harris, 17, a George Washington Carver High School honor roll student was suspended last month after ignoring a request from Carver Principal Willie Pickens to tuck in what AISD officials called a chain inside his pant pockets.

In an e-mail from AISD, "Mr. Pickens…said the chain was 16 inches in length with four protruding star-like clusters that could be used as a weapon in his estimation."

The incident occurred after school hours on Monday, April 9, while Mr. Harris was waiting for his mother to pick him up outside in the drive up area at Carver.

Mr. Harris says Mr. Pickens informed him and two other classmates they were in violation of a school policy which prohibits car riders from waiting outside. Mr. Harris said Mr. Pickens told the students they would have to wait inside the school.
According to an e-mail from Mike Keeney, Director of Public Information for AISD, Mr. Pickens "intended to provide a more secure environment for them due to the fact that individuals not associated with Carver High have been seen trying to come on campus to cause trouble."

Mr. Harris says it was about this time that Mr. Pickens noticed the necklace hanging from his pants. "He told me to put it in my pockets," said Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris said he ignored Mr. Pickens request, retrieved his school books and walked towards North Harris College's Carver Center which is adjacent to Carver High School. While at the center, Mr. Harris placed a call to his mother informing her that he would be waiting inside the center.

"While I was on the phone, I saw Mr. Pickens and (AISD) Officer (Al) Herdon behind me," said Mr. Harris.
After getting off the phone, Mr. Harris said Officer Herdon asked him to come outside to talk.

"I told him no that I was waiting for my mother," said Mr. Harris.
Mr. Harris said Officer Herdon asked him a second time to come outside. And a second time, Mr. Harris told him he was waiting for his mother.

"After that he grabbed my arms and placed them behind my back and forced me outside," said Mr. Harris.
While outside, Mr. Harris alleges that Officer Herdon poked him in his chest area several times with his hands.