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Community divided over racial tension at school

By Dedrick Russell - bio l email

DALLAS, NC (WBTV) - Things got a little dangerous Monday morning during a vigil in Gaston County.  A speeding red truck almost ran in two people who attended a vigil held to help heal the racial tension at North Gaston High School.

The group True Healing Under God (THUG) organized the event.  The objective was to talk about a series of events increasing racial tension at North Gaston High School.

A few showed up at a prayer vigil held in front of the school.

Tensions increased when a Confederate flag was fixed to the school's flagpole last week.

One day later, student Devante Long wore a Barack Obama T-shirt to school.  He claims his white classmates called him the "N-word" followed by a disturbance.

Long and three other students were suspended for five days because of the argument, not because of the T-Shirt.

Now, THUG is trying to get Long back in school.

"Let's talk about race," THUG Founder John Barnett said. "Let's talk about flags, let's talk about T-shirts because at the end of the day--life is more important than worrying about a flag or a T-shirt. I am here solely for the education and future of Devante Long."

There's no word if the student's suspension can be overturned.

The group THUG wants more black parents to get involved in the school.

The organization has requested to meet with the North Gaston High's principal as soon as possible.