E-mail warns of racial gang violence on Cinco de Mayo

Melissa Milios:

Los Angeles School Police are stepping up security on three local campuses today in response to a widely circulated e-mail message predicting racial gang violence on Cinco de Mayo.

Lt. Stephen Dodson, who oversees Los Angeles Unified schools in the South Bay and Harbor Area, said similar rumors circulate every year.

"We have not been able to substantiate or corroborate this rumor at any level," Dodson said. "Almost every school in the district has been hearing them."

Recent violence between black and Latino students at Jefferson High School and racial altercations in November at Jordan High likely were sparking fear, Dodson said.

Still, as a precaution Narbonne and Carson high schools will each have a second armed officer on campus today and Gardena High School's three armed officers will be supplemented by extra patrol officers before and after school and during breaks.

"I think visibility is a strong deterrent, that's why we're putting all our officers on the streets tomorrow," Dodson said.

Gardena High School Principal Russ Thompson said he had fielded several calls from concerned parents, but he told them all "we're going to have a regular school day.

"In fact, we're going to have a Cinco de Mayo assembly, similar to one we had during Black History Month," Thompson said. "It's about respecting other cultures. I think we'll be fine."

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