Grant High Students Sign ‘Peace Treaty’

Students at Grant High School put their commitment to racial harmony in writing Thursday, formally signing a peace treaty before an audience of classmates, administrators and politicians.

On hand to lend words of encouragement were U.S. Rep. Howard Berman and California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante. But for all the pomp surrounding the event, which followed a much-publicized brawl between Armenian and Latino students last October, Principal Joe Walker reminded them the responsibility to uphold the treaty is theirs.

“It’s not about me, it’s not about the politicians,” Walker said. “It’s not about anyone but the students of Grant High School.”

Students were glad to see the positive attention being paid to the agreement, which was presented at the school’s Assembly Hall. Many said the scope of the Oct. 21 melee was blown out of proportion by the media, which cited the number of participants as 200 or more.

“The media put it out to be a fight that cannot be repaired, a school that cannot be repaired, and a bunch of students that don’t know the difference between right and wrong,” said Andy Jassick, one of several peer mediators trained in the aftermath of the brawl.

“Personally, I disagree,” he said, drawing cheers from students.

One representative from each third-period class at the 3,400-student school was selected to attend the ceremony, and each will return today with a copy for their classmates to sign.

Bustamante talked about the value of diversity, pointing out similarities in the Latino and Armenian immigrant experience. He also praised students’ peacemaking efforts as a model for the entire state.

“Maybe the people who want to be divisive won’t like it,” he said. “But what you’re saying is, ‘This is not going to happen anymore, because we’re not gonna let it.’ ”

Then, under the glare of TV camera lights, class presidents and representatives from several student organizations filed onstage and signed their names to the document.

The pledge read in part: “We agree to talk out our differences and if necessary resolve our dispute through the Peer Mediation Program rather than resorting to violence.”

Students said tensions have cooled considerably since fall. But some said they doubted the treaty would be remembered if ethnic conflict reignited.

“I think it always will be segregated. I don’t think any treaty or any speech is going to change that,” said Kristen Patlian, 17. “I just think there’s always gonna be [fights]. People always have to stand up for their pride, their ego, whatever. I pray that [the treaty] works, but I don’t think it will.”