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VHSL MUST EXPEL CHATHAM, VA HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS FOUND TO COMMIT HATE CRIMES IN 2018
Hello Media Outlets and Law Enforcement in Virginia, My name is Merle Travis Rutledge Jr and I want a full and thorough investigation of the hate crime against Preston Turner by Chatham High School baseball players, Coached by Chad Anderson, that was involved. Mr. Turner is black and a student at Chatham High School in Chatham, Va. Based upon new information and articles printed in the local newspaper. Virginia is known to have a hate crime statute and it is believed these baseball players made a noose and stated it would be a lynching today. It is my understanding that the matter was never reported to the Pittsylvania County Sheriff Office or the Pittsylvania County Commonwealth Attorney office. However, if it wasnt then it is completely unacceptable. These white baseball players also damaged this young man glove with dirt and worms in a show of intimidation against Preston Turner. Under Virginia Code
Code of Virginia§ 52-8.5. Reporting hate crimes.C. For purposes of this section, “hate crime” means (i) a criminal act committed against a person or his property with the specific intent of instilling fear or intimidation in the individual against whom the act is perpetrated because of race, religion or ethnic origin or that is committed for the purpose of restraining that person from exercising his rights under the Constitution or laws of this Commonwealth or of the United States, (ii) any illegal act directed against any persons or their property because of those persons’ race, religion or national origin, and (iii) all other incidents, as determined by law-enforcement authorities, intended to intimidate or harass any individual or group because of race, religion or national origin. The chapters of the acts of assembly referenced in the historical citation at the end of this section may not constitute a comprehensive list of such chapters and may exclude chapters whose provisions have expired. It is clear that based off the punishment for these incidents compared to Preston Turner being punished over a football incident with a coach which does not amount to assault or disruptive demonstration at all by any form of the imagination. The schools should have reported the incident to local law enforcement which they did not because they spent more time trying to cover it up. I ask not only for local law enforcement but for the Governor to assign the Virginia State Police to start an investigation into this hate crime and to bring justice to these families, as it is clear that Chatham High School and Pittsylvania County Schools care more about their baseball players then the students in which they torment. I will also be asking that the Virginia High School League investigate all these events for civil rights and discrimination violations, because this is conduct unbecoming of any team that is actively playing sports at this time. The players involved in this incident are still playing baseball and living their lives without the effects that Mr. Turner faced. Below is an article which describes by the local newspaper the series of events that occurred and justice must be done. It is also clear that the hate crime was covered up by the highest levels of the school’s administration by putting a charge on Mr. Turner record for a coach that tried to tackle Mr. Preston during practice while running a live play, without pads or protection. The school considered it an assault on a coach, but failed to discipline the coach for putting his self in jeopardy for no reason. They also made Mr. Turner suffer discipline and punishment over this incident without a hearing. Mr. Turner was suspended and fulfilled his obligations of the suspension to return back to school to find out new punishment was added on such as Community service hours, being erased out the school’s year book, and taking away all of his records. It is clear Mr. Turner can not and will not have a fair opportunity to be heard, because he was punish twice for the same event with a Superintendant that agreed that the actions of Chatham High School principal was warranted. This is essentially double jeopardy by corruption towards Mr. Turner. It also shows a conspiracy to violate Mr. Turners rights under color of the law. A investigation by all proper authorities must and should be opened immediately. Mr. Turner has lost scholarships and more for a record/charge that does not fit the allegations asserted by Chatham High School. Just like a boxing ring and a football field is no different. Mr. Turner ran a play and the white coach broke down in a defensive position to tackle him during a live play. The only person that should have been charged with assault was the coach as it is clear that no supervisory personnel can put their hands on a student, but this coach volunteered. This is one of the worse cases and violations of the Equal Protection Clause I have seen in a long time. The state must do more now to stop what occurred from happening again. The below article is a parents nightmare and the state must make it mandatory even for schools to have a hate crime disciplinary policy within their schools with the punishment clearly outlined and if not then the public schools should be required to notify local or state law enforcement for investigation. It is a disgrace that any team that has committed such an act has players still playing right now for VHSL after this happen. The local and state government, to include school board should be ashamed off themselves. All schools need to reform their policies and procedures for addressing hate crimes on campus. The article is as follow: Also VHSL requires within 24 hours to report these infractions. Why wasn’t it reported to VHSL by Chatham High School in Virginia. 27-11-7 Situations Which Must Be Reported to the League-Situations which must Parents seek answers, results from Pittsylvania County Schools
Posted: Wednesday, May 2, 2018 6:20 pm | Updated: 10:01 pm, Wed May 2, 2018. Parents Preston A. and Aicia Turner are seeking to have a disciplinary referral of their son Preston D. Turner expunged at Chatham High School of an alleged assault that occurred during the evening of October 25, 2017. Turner, a senior at Chatham, was participating in football practice when he ran a play and allegedly ran into a coach during a drill. The student behavior referral form states that the reason for the referral is “assault on assistant football coach,” with the administrative action of 10 days of out of school suspension and signed by Dalton. According to a letter sent home from CHS Athletic Director Jessica Dalton, Preston was suspended 10 days beginning on Oct. 26 for, “assaulting the assistant football coach.” During the first football game of the year on August 25, Turner broke the state record for most touchdowns in a game with nine touchdowns — breaking a 42-year old state record. According to his father, that record and others which he broke during the season were left out of the 2017-18 yearbook which already to press. “Preston is an accomplished athlete at Chatham High School. He embarrassed an assistant coach after he ran him down at a football game. We’ve been unable to convince the principal or the Superintendent to dial it back,” Turner’s father said. The family believes that, ‘he has been purposefully demonized.’ After the season was over, Turner was told not to attend the football awards banquet. His accomplishments were allegedly not recognized from the season. “No devil in hell can take what God can put inside you,” his father said that he has been telling Preston. His father also alleges that Preston had to perform 80 hours of community service in order to be eligible for the basketball team. After meeting those hours, he was allowed to play in January — two months after the season’s official start. Then time came for spring sports, and Preston wanted to go and try out for baseball. “First week of tryouts there was a lot of rain and there was a tarp on the field. He fell and the coach told him to go and change. A few team members were in the dugout and one of the guys hung a chain in the dugout and placed it in the form of a noose, and asked Preston is there gonna be a lynching today,” Preston’s father said. The father alleged his son didn’t know what they were talking about. “They said, ‘that’s what is done to black people,’” Preston’s father said through tears. Preston said he didn’t play those games and went and changed. Back at the field, players allegedly filled his glove with dirt and worms. When he returned, he discovered what they had done. After finding out what happened, parents Preston and Aicia reached out to the school the next day. The Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office was never notified of the alleged hate speech. They were allegedly told the events at the baseball field were under investigation, but officials at the school wouldn’t say what punishment was given out. Preston’s father alleges that the boys involved only had to write an essay, perform a few hours of community service, and replace his glove. “For me to be a father and allow something like this to happen, I can’t do it. I can’t do it,” Preston said. According to the family having the word ‘assault’ on Preston’s record hindered him from moving to the next level. The Turner’s will be filing a complaint with the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights in Washington D.C. and a courtesy complaint to the civil rights counterpart agencies in Virginia, according to a press release from the family. The Turner’s are also contacting the Howard University Law Center in Washington D.C. for information on retaining a civil rights attorney to counsel them on their best course of action as an advisory. A letter sent to the Turner’s by Pittsylvania County School Superintendent Dr. Mark Jones dated March 21, 2018 states that, “Preston’s discipline referral must remain as it was recorded and cannot be removed from his discipline record,” it continues, “Mr. [Randy] Foster will plan to recognize Preston’s state record of scoring nine touchdowns in one football game at a time that he determines is best, “ it continues, “I am also of the opinion that the incident with the baseball players was thoroughly investigated and appropriate actions were taken.” The Turner’s still want Preston’s athletic records restored and the disciplinary referral expunged from their record before graduation. “There’s nothing I can comment on because it would be a student matter. I can’t confirm any dealing with a student record because its dealing with a student’s cumulative record,” Dr. Jones said in a separate interview Wednesday. Dr. Jones also said that he has no knowledge of any video from the evening that the alleged assault occurred. “I don’t believe we video any practices county wide,” Dr. Jones said. Anita Royston, who was present and briefly spoke at the family’s press conference Wednesday at WKBY on U.S. Highway 29 in Chatham said that she had spoken to a university contact. Thank you for your time, P.S I remember this article and I hope VHSL stays true to its word on holding student athletes accountable and schools that fail to report such incidents accountable as well. Hello Media Outlets and Law Enforcement in Virginia, My name is Merle Travis Rutledge Jr and I want a full and thorough investigation of the hate crime against Preston Turner by Chatham High School baseball players that was involved. Mr. Turner is black and a student at Chatham High School in Chatham, Va. Based upon new information and articles printed in the local newspaper. Virginia is known to have a hate crime statute and it is believed these baseball players made a noose and stated it would be a lynching today. It is my understanding that the matter was never reported to the Pittsylvania County Sheriff Office or the Pittsylvania County Commonwealth Attorney office. However, if it wasnt then it is completely unacceptable. These white baseball players also damaged this young man glove with dirt and worms in a show of intimidation against Preston Turner. Under Virginia Code
Code of Virginia§ 52-8.5. Reporting hate crimes.C. For purposes of this section, “hate crime” means (i) a criminal act committed against a person or his property with the specific intent of instilling fear or intimidation in the individual against whom the act is perpetrated because of race, religion or ethnic origin or that is committed for the purpose of restraining that person from exercising his rights under the Constitution or laws of this Commonwealth or of the United States, (ii) any illegal act directed against any persons or their property because of those persons’ race, religion or national origin, and (iii) all other incidents, as determined by law-enforcement authorities, intended to intimidate or harass any individual or group because of race, religion or national origin. The chapters of the acts of assembly referenced in the historical citation at the end of this section may not constitute a comprehensive list of such chapters and may exclude chapters whose provisions have expired. It is clear that based off the punishment for these incidents compared to Preston Turner being punished over a football incident with a coach which does not amount to assault or disruptive demonstration at all by any form of the imagination. The schools should have reported the incident to local law enforcement which they did not because they spent more time trying to cover it up. I ask not only for local law enforcement but for the Governor to assign the Virginia State Police to start an investigation into this hate crime and to bring justice to these families, as it is clear that Chatham High School and Pittsylvania County Schools care more about their baseball players then the students in which they torment. I will also be asking that the Virginia High School League investigate all these events for civil rights and discrimination violations, because this is conduct unbecoming of any team that is actively playing sports at this time. The players involved in this incident are still playing baseball and living their lives without the effects that Mr. Turner faced. Below is an article which describes by the local newspaper the series of events that occurred and justice must be done. It is also clear that the hate crime was covered up by the highest levels of the school’s administration by putting a charge on Mr. Turner record for a coach that tried to tackle Mr. Preston during practice while running a live play, without pads or protection. The school considered it an assault on a coach, but failed to discipline the coach for putting his self in jeopardy for no reason. They also made Mr. Turner suffer discipline and punishment over this incident without a hearing. Mr. Turner was suspended and fulfilled his obligations of the suspension to return back to school to find out new punishment was added on such as Community service hours, being erased out the school’s year book, and taking away all of his records. It is clear Mr. Turner can not and will not have a fair opportunity to be heard, because he was punish twice for the same event with a Superintendant that agreed that the actions of Chatham High School principal was warranted. This is essentially double jeopardy by corruption towards Mr. Turner. It also shows a conspiracy to violate Mr. Turners rights under color of the law. A investigation by all proper authorities must and should be opened immediately. Mr. Turner has lost scholarships and more for a record/charge that does not fit the allegations asserted by Chatham High School. Just like a boxing ring and a football field is no different. Mr. Turner ran a play and the white coach broke down in a defensive position to tackle him during a live play. The only person that should have been charged with assault was the coach as it is clear that no supervisory personnel can put their hands on a student, but this coach volunteered. This is one of the worse cases and violations of the Equal Protection Clause I have seen in a long time. The state must do more now to stop what occurred from happening again. The below article is a parents nightmare and the state must make it mandatory even for schools to have a hate crime disciplinary policy within their schools with the punishment clearly outlined and if not then the public schools should be required to notify local or state law enforcement for investigation. It is a disgrace that any team that has committed such an act has players still playing right now for VHSL after this happen. The local and state government, to include school board should be ashamed off themselves. All schools need to reform their policies and procedures for addressing hate crimes on campus. The article is as follow: Parents seek answers, results from Pittsylvania County Schools
Posted: Wednesday, May 2, 2018 6:20 pm | Updated: 10:01 pm, Wed May 2, 2018. Parents Preston A. and Aicia Turner are seeking to have a disciplinary referral of their son Preston D. Turner expunged at Chatham High School of an alleged assault that occurred during the evening of October 25, 2017. Turner, a senior at Chatham, was participating in football practice when he ran a play and allegedly ran into a coach during a drill. The student behavior referral form states that the reason for the referral is “assault on assistant football coach,” with the administrative action of 10 days of out of school suspension and signed by Dalton. According to a letter sent home from CHS Athletic Director Jessica Dalton, Preston was suspended 10 days beginning on Oct. 26 for, “assaulting the assistant football coach.” During the first football game of the year on August 25, Turner broke the state record for most touchdowns in a game with nine touchdowns — breaking a 42-year old state record. According to his father, that record and others which he broke during the season were left out of the 2017-18 yearbook which already to press. “Preston is an accomplished athlete at Chatham High School. He embarrassed an assistant coach after he ran him down at a football game. We’ve been unable to convince the principal or the Superintendent to dial it back,” Turner’s father said. The family believes that, ‘he has been purposefully demonized.’ After the season was over, Turner was told not to attend the football awards banquet. His accomplishments were allegedly not recognized from the season. “No devil in hell can take what God can put inside you,” his father said that he has been telling Preston. His father also alleges that Preston had to perform 80 hours of community service in order to be eligible for the basketball team. After meeting those hours, he was allowed to play in January — two months after the season’s official start. Then time came for spring sports, and Preston wanted to go and try out for baseball. “First week of tryouts there was a lot of rain and there was a tarp on the field. He fell and the coach told him to go and change. A few team members were in the dugout and one of the guys hung a chain in the dugout and placed it in the form of a noose, and asked Preston is there gonna be a lynching today,” Preston’s father said. The father alleged his son didn’t know what they were talking about. “They said, ‘that’s what is done to black people,’” Preston’s father said through tears. Preston said he didn’t play those games and went and changed. Back at the field, players allegedly filled his glove with dirt and worms. When he returned, he discovered what they had done. After finding out what happened, parents Preston and Aicia reached out to the school the next day. The Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office was never notified of the alleged hate speech. They were allegedly told the events at the baseball field were under investigation, but officials at the school wouldn’t say what punishment was given out. Preston’s father alleges that the boys involved only had to write an essay, perform a few hours of community service, and replace his glove. “For me to be a father and allow something like this to happen, I can’t do it. I can’t do it,” Preston said. According to the family having the word ‘assault’ on Preston’s record hindered him from moving to the next level. The Turner’s will be filing a complaint with the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights in Washington D.C. and a courtesy complaint to the civil rights counterpart agencies in Virginia, according to a press release from the family. The Turner’s are also contacting the Howard University Law Center in Washington D.C. for information on retaining a civil rights attorney to counsel them on their best course of action as an advisory. A letter sent to the Turner’s by Pittsylvania County School Superintendent Dr. Mark Jones dated March 21, 2018 states that, “Preston’s discipline referral must remain as it was recorded and cannot be removed from his discipline record,” it continues, “Mr. [Randy] Foster will plan to recognize Preston’s state record of scoring nine touchdowns in one football game at a time that he determines is best, “ it continues, “I am also of the opinion that the incident with the baseball players was thoroughly investigated and appropriate actions were taken.” The Turner’s still want Preston’s athletic records restored and the disciplinary referral expunged from their record before graduation. “There’s nothing I can comment on because it would be a student matter. I can’t confirm any dealing with a student record because its dealing with a student’s cumulative record,” Dr. Jones said in a separate interview Wednesday. Dr. Jones also said that he has no knowledge of any video from the evening that the alleged assault occurred. “I don’t believe we video any practices county wide,” Dr. Jones said. Anita Royston, who was present and briefly spoke at the family’s press conference Wednesday at WKBY on U.S. Highway 29 in Chatham said that she had spoken to a university contact. Thank you for your time, Merle T. Rutledge Jr President of the NCAGA and Candidate for Governor of Virginia for the Vote of 2021 5999 Riviera Arch Virginia Beach, Va 23464 757-275-5392 Merle T. Rutledge Jr President of the NCAGA and Candidate for Governor of Virginia for the Vote of 2021 5999 Riviera Arch Virginia Beach, Va 23464 757-275-5392 |