Jackson public school officials apologize for a "insensitive" half-time show at Brookhaven from the Forest Hill High School Band, showing firearms held on police.

The show sparked an emotional reaction from the city where two police officers were killed in the line of duty last week.

Governor Phil Bryant condemned the performance, tweeting "This is unacceptable in a civilized society.Someone should be held accountable."

The photos of the show were widely circulated on social media late Friday night. Two female members wearing scrubs and a male member wearing what appears to be a technician's coat are shown pointing fake rifles on two students on the floor.

JPS director Errick Greene said the scene was a loose reconstruction of the movie "John Q."

In the film, a father played by Denzel Washington kidnaps a group of patients in a hospital to heal his son.

"JPS has a lot of respect and appreciation for its law enforcement partners, the band's performance does not reflect the values ​​and the members of our community and was incredibly insensitive to students, families, leaders of law enforcement and to the entire Brookhaven community, "JPS said in a statement. "For that, we sincerely apologize to everyone and we are committed to doing better in the future."

Patrolman James White, age 35, and cap. Zach Moak, 31, was killed on 29 September. Police were responding to reports of gun shots fired at a house.

The funeral for the men took place on Wednesday and Thursday.

The call numbers of Moak and White were painted on the ground at BHS in remembrance of their fatal shootout, which took place on Saturday morning. These are not the first commemorative numbers that were painted on this field.

In 2017, BHS player Jordan Blackwell was killed in a shootout that also left MP William Durr dead. Number 18 Blackwell is widely represented in the field, on uniforms and t-shirts in the stadium since this tragedy.

Friday night's match was the sixth game of the high school football season.

District officials would not say if the students had played the show in previous games.

Greene said some "initial actions" were taken.

A spokeswoman for Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba said the mayor had received a report stating that the high school band director had been put on administrative leave during the investigation.

"Although I do not believe that the students who participated in this half-time show had a malicious intent, I understand that we are ultimately not defined by what we decided to do, but rather by the way which we react to these events. Lumumba said in a statement. "It is the responsibility of adults to offer advice to young people.Our students should have been informed that this was neither the time nor the place for this performance."

JPS Board Chair Jeanne Middleton Hairston told Clarion Ledger that she was aware of the show but could not comment "for the moment".
District Communications Officers did not immediately return a request for comment.

Forrest Hill was not invited to a group competition at the Copiah Academy on Saturday.

"Parents and students, I spoke to the BHS administration.The MSHAA was contacted and Forrest Hill was not invited to participate in the CA contest today," said the Brookhaven Band Boosters on their official Facebook page. "Coming from me – please, as humans, remember that, even if this situation is horrible, it is the students who lose.They have worked hard for their show.Unfortunately, their leaders chose the wrong form of show to show, show the students' compassion, and I personally pray that they all learn something from this situation. "

On social media, people expressed their indignation at Forrest Hill's halftime show. The residents of Brookhaven were not only furious, but also the forces of order in the state. Several lawmakers also expressed anger.

"I will be filing a complaint with the Mississippi High School Activities Association, as well as Forest Hill and the JPS administration." How can an administrator think that the half-time show is appropriate? wrote Senator Sally Doty, R-Brookhaven.

"I have received a ton of messages about this completely despicable, disgusting and disrespectful act from last night." It was said that the Mississippi Department of Education had been informed and would launch a Many of us, including myself, will be following up to make sure this does not happen again, "said Tom Miles, D-Forest's representative.

MDE spokeswoman Jean Cook said the agency was "watching the situation closely."

Commissioner Marshall Fisher said the Mississippi Department of Public Safety was "extremely disturbed by the leadership of Forest Hill who had allowed the band to present a reenactment of violence against law enforcement when they were not there. a football game at Brookhaven High School, two police officers from Brookhaven to insane violence.

"There is no excuse for such an unpleasant performance. This only exacerbates the war against the forces of order in our country, "Fisher continued. Imitate acts of violence against law enforcement, or members of the public should never be tolerated during a football game in high school or any activity whatever. The Governor's Safe Schools Task Force is currently working to reduce school violence to record levels. I must question anyone who made this decision regarding the message they send to our children. "

In addition to Moak and White, Private Josh Smith was killed in Alcorn County on September 30th. If it turns out that his death is in use, it will be the bloodiest 24 hours for police officers in the history of Mississippi.

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