Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 26, 1995 TAG: 9509260055
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
But the core dozen or so Blacksburg High School students who protested Monday on Henderson lawn took their mission seriously.
"I'm here in memory of Maurice Taylor, just to let everybody know what the Blacksburg Police Department did was wrong," said sophomore Robert Couch.
The students, who held up white cardboard signs with words like "No Justice, No Peace," shouted at cars driving through Main Street to honk in support of Taylor.
Last month, police followed Taylor into a South Main Street drug store to serve a 1992 robbery warrant. Taylor was fatally shot after he pulled out a BB pistol.
The students said they were friends with Taylor, and worry that another friend could be shot.
"Yes, Maurice did wrong when he was young," Tameka Gumbs said. "But that's no reason to shoot him dead."
Blacksburg High Principal Alfred Smith estimated about 40 students quietly left their third period classes and gathered in a circle outside for a short prayer. Most walked downtown to protest; some wandered elsewhere.
About eight students came back to school a few minutes later, Smith said. They told him they didn't realize the group planned to leave school and wanted to go back to class.
Gumbs, vice president of the high school's Black Awareness Club, said she had talked to Smith and Assistant Superintendent John Martin last week. Everyone knew they could face three days in-school suspension for leaving school grounds.
"I told them I didn't understand why they couldn't accomplish the same thing at 2:30" when school ends, Smith said.
Leaving school, the group reasoned, would draw more attention. Gumbs figured about 200 drivers honked their horns as they passed by.
She said the idea to protest developed after some members of the group attended last week's public forum organized by the Montgomery County Human Relations Council.
During the forum, which became heated at times, many adults vented concerns about Taylor's death and the way the Police Department handled the incident.
The student group plans to meet again today - this time at 3:30.
Staff writer Adrianne Bee contributed to this story.
by CNB