Paul Revere Charter Middle School and Magnet Center Friday, June 5, 2020 Volume 64, Issue 4 Year Ends With Even More Turmoil COVER STORY Protests for racial justice spin out of control, rocking the Revere community and the world. By NICO TROEDSSON On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, died in Minne- apolis, Minnesota after a white officer knelt on George Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes, kill- ing him. Cellphone footage of this incident went viral, sparking protests across the U.S. where people came together in the hopes of ending police brutali- ty and the racial inequality that has infected some members of the police force. Some of these peaceful protests devolved into The National Guard protects the Seventh grader Anna Song studies on Zoom. Photo: Mary Shannon anarchy, as looters attacked Palisades Village. Photo: Arik Kraft small local businesses as well as big corporate shops, started fires, via Schoology to notify students and destroyed many neighbor- of the change: “Based on the Revere Perseveres hoods. current social issues affecting Faced with the school’s sudden closure, The civil unrest in Los An- the Westside of Los Angeles, we geles county has affected many will be canceling the Textbook/ Patriots make the switch to remote learning. Paul Revere students on many iPad collection, Locker clean out levels. Due to the chaos and vi- for the week of June 1st. We will By ARIK KRAFT olence in the streets, the school send you out the new schedule No one really knew on Friday the 13th of March that when has had to rethink end of the year tomorrow for collection. please they walked off the Revere campus that afternoon, it would be procedures.Textbook collection do not attempt to access campus their last day of learning there for the rest of the school year. and locker clean-out, which had tomorrow or any other day this Paul Revere wasn’t alone on this descion. Schools all around originally been scheduled for the week. Please look forward for California closed due to the spread of COVID-19. This new pan- last two weeks of school, had to future updates.” The new dates demic is causing many issues. Store items are becoming out of be postponed. for collection and clean-out have (continued on page 6) School principal Mr. Iannucci been set Jun. 10–19. sent out the following message (continued on page 2) Zoom meetings are connecting Stars of tonight’s film festival are Students act out history to learn P.E. students are staying fit with today’s remote learners. Page 15 ready for their close-ups. Page 41 more about the present. Page 43 long walks and sprints. Page 55 2 June 5, 2020 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School Revere Reacts (continued from page 1) Additionally, school counselors, con- cerned over the mental and emotional stress that students may be experiencing, have of- fered individual support to students. Along with the message, “We are reaching out during this time of numerous devastating incidents that have taken place in our com- munities, in addition to the CO-VID 19 pan- demic. It’s saddening to see a peaceful pro- test for racial injustice turn into a situation in which some are taking advantage of com- munities and forgetting what the real protest is all about,” the counselors have also made Haney Marvin Photo: available a document detailing mental health “For 8:46 minutes, protestors laid on the ground chanting ‘I Can’t Breathe,’” reported Marvin resources for the African-American commu- Haney on his Instagram feed. Mr. Haney took this photograph and many others last Sunday. nity. Ms. Raymonda Johnson, a paraprofes- that were planned to be held in Los Angeles lage,” said Matin. “My family and I were go- sional on the Revere faculty, was blunt in her and in Santa Monica on Sunday but was sur- ing for a walk around our neighborhood. It assessment of recent events. “As a member prised by the quick turn in events. was kind of scary at first because when I saw of the black community I view it exactly for “I thought about taking Jean out there so their big trucks and uniforms. I thought there what it is — black lives are not valued in she could capture some images but I’m glad might have been people looting and rioting society. What we witnessed last week with I decided against it,” said Mr. Haney. “It was near me but when they didn’t go anywhere George Floyd was not a first and it saddens total chaos in Santa Monica on Sunday. We I realized they were just there in case some- me to say more than likely it won’t be the were out there for at least 4-5 hours. Com- thing happened.” last. Unfortunately, this is an act plete lawlessness.” He took Pierce Teichman also noticed the Nation- that has gone on time and time dozens of photographs captur- al Guard near the Palisades Village. “Four or again without consequences. ing all the drama. five times yesterday, I heard multiple police Until police are held account- Nearly two hundred busi- car sirens going off while they were driv- able for their actions and there nesses in and around the Third ing through the Palisades. Earlier today, I are consequences and convic- Street Promenade were broken saw that the new Palisades Village is being tions for their actions this will into and ransacked by looters guarded by the National Guard and the stores continue.” as police officers attempted to are either closed or closing early. But when On Wednesday, Minneso- bring order to the area. I just saw the video of George Floyd’s death ta’s attorney general announced P.E. teacher Mr. Foxson today, I felt very sad and wanted to make the that he would file second degree took his son Tate to Venice police stop. After what’s already happened, I murder charges against the offi- to observe events unfold. He feel there will be more looting and violence cer who pinned Mr. Floyd to the witnessed first-hand looters until people feel that justice is served. What I ground while the handcuffed breaking into stores, bring- think I can do to help is to show people how man declared, “I can’t breathe!” ing a destructive element to racism affects our country.” The three other police officers Ms. Raymonda Johnson a protest that was meant for A number of Patriots also noted heli- who looked on while all this good. copters tracking the events from the city’s was happening were charged with aiding in Claire Sibson witnessed riot police driv- skies. “On Sunday morning, my family and his death. ing through her neighborhood. “When I was I went on a bike ride from Venice Beach to Reacting to this news, Ms. Johnson said, outside walking my dog, I could hear cars the beach right by Pali High,” Giada Musu- “I’m optimistic that the four police will be honking in the distance, and the screech of meci described the scene. “When we started convicted of the crime they have committed a police car as it drove down my street,” she cycling back home, the sound of horrible he- and they receive the maximum for what they explained. “The car looked like it was over- licopters made us tilt our heads up in their have done.” flowing with men in black uniforms with direction. We rode on anxiously and saw the As protests began to come together in shields and hats. The sirens were wailing and helicopters hovering right over the Pier on the city, members of the Revere community I was terrified.” Matin Farhangnia observed the route to our house. When we got to the found themselves in the middle of the action. law enforcement officials securing commer- Pier and started heading home, the route was Marvin Haney, father to seventh grader cial areas not far from the looting. “I saw blocked by protesters. Though the protesters Jean Haney and a freelance photographer, the National Guard in the Pacific Palisades seemed peaceful, we didn’t want to risk our had hoped to capture the peaceful protests on Monument Street behind the Caruso Vil- safety. We had to go on Ocean Park Blvd. June 5, 2020 THE TOWN CRIER Paul Revere Middle School 3 instead of Pico Blvd., where there were many hills to climb.” The helicopter presence frightened Makena Nishi who was saddened by the destructive events in the city: “I saw and heard many huge police helicopters fly over my house. The constant sound of enormous helicopters flying over my house can get a little scary sometimes. I also heard police sirens and saw firetrucks driving by,” Mak- ena explained. “I used to take my dogs on walks every day and night, but now since all the rioting, looting, the curfew, and po- lice all over, now I can’t walk my dogs as much anymore. I have been watching the news lately, and the things I’ve seen about the protests are terrible: cars being lit on fire, people getting pepper sprayed, and people looting innocent stores. I can’t believe that this is happening, I mean we are all human beings but we are acting like vicious animals and hurting each other. We can’t keep acting like this, we need to help each other not hurt each other.” Some Patriots feared not only for the city, its stores, and its landmarks but also for the lives of their loved ones, many of whom work in the areas that were hit hardest by civil disorder.