Blacks Hold Meeting, Call School Boycott

A boycott of black students from all Ann Arbor Public Schools was launched last night at a mass meeting of black parents and students over the recent racial incidents in the schools. Classes are currently being held at the I Ann Arbor Community Center for black f students and will continue until negotiations are completed between blacks and the school administration, it was decided at the meeting. ;. Some 300 black students were at the Community Center this morning, according to a spokesman there. A steering committee composed of blLck parents and students has been organized and is formulating a list of demarids from the black community to the schooi officials. A press release was to be issued tonight concerning the committee's actions. Last night's meeting, attended by more than 300 persons, evolved from the most recent confrontation at Pioneer High School, the most serious in the week-long progression of racial incidents. According to a spokesman at the Community Center: "It is not safe right now for black children to be in the schools." During the meeting numerous incidents of physical harassment in the schools against black students were reported, many of which were attributed to white outsiders. Classes at the Community Center are staffed by Model C i t i e s Personnel, i University students and other community volunteers. Parents and students also were stationed at the schools to inform ottier black parents and students who msy have been unaware of the boycott. There are 1,978 black students in the Ann Arbor Public Schools out of a total enrollment of 19,911. There are 145 black students at Huron and 135 at Pioneer. School officials indicated this morning that there were very few black.s in I artendance in the high schools. Thei'e I were no figures available for the junior I high schools. I