Parents Meet With Oxnard Educators on Campus Violence

Some parents of black students at Oxnard High School met with school officials to address concerns about violence on campus, officials said Friday.

The parents requested the meeting in the aftermath of a brawl at the school gymnasium Wednesday that students said was started by friction between black and Latino gang members.

The fight started between two male students in front of 300 to 400 other students who were eating lunch indoors to keep out of the rain, school and police officials said.

Although school officials said about 15 youths were involved in the fight, some students said at least 50 had been fighting. School officials called Oxnard police to help control the students, some of whom used sticks and pipes. Officials had cleared the gym by the time 10 police officers arrived, police said.

A 16-year-old student was arrested and charged with inciting a riot, and 15 students were suspended, officials said.

John Hatcher, president of the Ventura County chapter of the NAACP, said he attended the meeting Thursday involving parents, Oxnard High Principal Ruperto Cisneros and Supt. Ian Kirkpatrick. They discussed the fight and what could be done to prevent further violence, he said.

The group agreed to hold additional meetings, Hatcher said.

Assistant Supt. Gary Davis said the parents, concerned about the incident, had approached Cisneros about the meetings. Cisneros and Kirkpatrick were not available for comment Friday.