Kearney, Conway, O'Shea on busing, Part 1
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Judy Stoia interviews Dennis Kearney (State Representative), Gloria Conway (Editor, Charlestown Patriot) and Mon O'Shea (Associate Dean, Bunker Hill Community College) on the steps of the Bunker Hill Monument. They talk about youth unrest, the Charlestown anti-busing movement, racism in Charlestown, and the heavy police presence. The three community leaders say that youth violence is a problem; that the actions of Charlestown youth seems to be directed against the police presence and not against busing. Conway notes that the Charlestown anti-busing movement is committed to non-violence. The three leaders say that Charlestown is not a violent community. Tape 1 of 3
1:00:03: Visual: Police officers line up buy ice cream from an ice cream truck parked near Charlestown High School. Audio of WGBH crew members joking lightheartedly. Shot of Monument Square in front of Charlestown High School. 1:01:45: V: Judy Stoia sets up an interview with Dennis Kearney (State Representative), Gloria Conway (Editor, Charlestown Patriot) and Mon O'Shea (Associate Dean, Bunker Hill Community College) on the steps of the Bunker Hill Monument. Stoia asks about the likelihood of an appeal to Charlestown parents to keep their children off of the streets. O'Shea says that Charlestown residents are upset by the violence of the past two days; that youth violence is a problem; that an appeal will eventually be heard. Kearney says that senseless vandalism should not be confused with legitimate anti-busing sentiment; that anti-busing leaders realize that the violence and vandalism must stop. Stoia asks if Charlestown youth is responsible for the vandalism. Conway says that it probably is the youth. O'Shea says that youth unrest has always been a problem in urban areas; that the behavior of the youth in Charlestown may have nothing to do with busing. Conway says that it is easy for young people to get caught up in the action without thinking. Kearney says that the buses entering and leaving Charlestown have been left alone; that the conflict between Charlestown youth and police seems divorced from the busing issue; that the sentiment of Charlestown youth appears to be more anti-police than anti-busing. 1:07:35: V: O'Shea says that parents need to keep their children at home; that it is easy for younger children to get caught up in the aggression. Conway says that she would like to invite concerned members of the community to get out on the streets to talk with the young people; that the community needs to urge the youth to stop destructive behavior. O'Shea says that Charlestown residents are concerned with their children getting bused out of Charlestown; that they do not care if other children are bused in. Conway says that every child bused in represents a Charlestown child bused out. O'Shea says that the anti-busing sentiment has not been directed at the students bused in to Charlestown. Kearney says a large crowd of youth were gathered on Monument Square in the afternoon; that he was concerned for the safety of the schoolchildren who were let off the buses near the crowd; that emotions of the residents are running high and the buses are a symbol of the conflict. 1:11:34: V: Stoia asks about racism in the community. Conway says that racist graffiti is the work of a few people; that racism is present in the community but is not an overwhelming sentiment. Kearney says that most residents are disgusted by racial slurs and taunts directed at schoolchildren; that residents are concerned for the safety of all children. O'Shea says that residents were not fully prepared for the arrival of large numbers of police in Charlestown on the first day of school; that residents woke up to a "military state" before the buses even arrived; that the police presence should be less visible. Conway says that people woke up to five helicopters circling the town and police lining the streets; that the police presence was overwhelming even to those who were expecting it. 1:14:48: V: Stoia asks if it is fair to compare events in Charlestown this year to events in South Boston last year. Kearney says that it is not fair; that Charlestown is a different community than South Boston; that South Boston did not experience the same heavy police presence on the first day of school; that the police presence was overwhelming for a town that measures one square mile. Stoia says that some African American parents believe the heavy police presence is necessary to protect their children. O'Shea says that some police presence is necessary; that he hopes it will not be needed eventually. Conway says that residents and community leaders are working to unite the community and resolve problems. Kearney says that he has worked closely with Charlestown anti-busing groups; that anti-busing leaders are working for public safety; that they are organizing peaceful demonstrations; that racism does exist in Charlestown; that anti-busing leaders are working to end violence. Conway says that Charlestown anti-busing demonstrations have been non-violent. 1:20:11: V: Stoia comments that many outsiders see Charlestown as a violent community. O'Shea says that violence and unrest are problems in many urban areas; that the media has given an extraodinary amount of coverage to violence in Charlestown.
1:00:03: Visual: Police officers line up buy ice cream from an ice cream truck parked near Charlestown High School. Audio of WGBH crew members joking lightheartedly. Shot of Monument Square in front of Charlestown High School. 1:01:45: V: Judy Stoia sets up an interview with Dennis Kearney (State Representative), Gloria Conway (Editor, Charlestown Patriot) and Mon O'Shea (Associate Dean, Bunker Hill Community College) on the steps of the Bunker Hill Monument. Stoia asks about the likelihood of an appeal to Charlestown parents to keep their children off of the streets. O'Shea says that Charlestown residents are upset by the violence of the past two days; that youth violence is a problem; that an appeal will eventually be heard. Kearney says that senseless vandalism should not be confused with legitimate anti-busing sentiment; that anti-busing leaders realize that the violence and vandalism must stop. Stoia asks if Charlestown youth is responsible for the vandalism. Conway says that it probably is the youth. O'Shea says that youth unrest has always been a problem in urban areas; that the behavior of the youth in Charlestown may have nothing to do with busing. Conway says that it is easy for young people to get caught up in the action without thinking. Kearney says that the buses entering and leaving Charlestown have been left alone; that the conflict between Charlestown youth and police seems divorced from the busing issue; that the sentiment of Charlestown youth appears to be more anti-police than anti-busing. 1:07:35: V: O'Shea says that parents need to keep their children at home; that it is easy for younger children to get caught up in the aggression. Conway says that she would like to invite concerned members of the community to get out on the streets to talk with the young people; that the community needs to urge the youth to stop destructive behavior. O'Shea says that Charlestown residents are concerned with their children getting bused out of Charlestown; that they do not care if other children are bused in. Conway says that every child bused in represents a Charlestown child bused out. O'Shea says that the anti-busing sentiment has not been directed at the students bused in to Charlestown. Kearney says a large crowd of youth were gathered on Monument Square in the afternoon; that he was concerned for the safety of the schoolchildren who were let off the buses near the crowd; that emotions of the residents are running high and the buses are a symbol of the conflict. 1:11:34: V: Stoia asks about racism in the community. Conway says that racist graffiti is the work of a few people; that racism is present in the community but is not an overwhelming sentiment. Kearney says that most residents are disgusted by racial slurs and taunts directed at schoolchildren; that residents are concerned for the safety of all children. O'Shea says that residents were not fully prepared for the arrival of large numbers of police in Charlestown on the first day of school; that residents woke up to a "military state" before the buses even arrived; that the police presence should be less visible. Conway says that people woke up to five helicopters circling the town and police lining the streets; that the police presence was overwhelming even to those who were expecting it. 1:14:48: V: Stoia asks if it is fair to compare events in Charlestown this year to events in South Boston last year. Kearney says that it is not fair; that Charlestown is a different community than South Boston; that South Boston did not experience the same heavy police presence on the first day of school; that the police presence was overwhelming for a town that measures one square mile. Stoia says that some African American parents believe the heavy police presence is necessary to protect their children. O'Shea says that some police presence is necessary; that he hopes it will not be needed eventually. Conway says that residents and community leaders are working to unite the community and resolve problems. Kearney says that he has worked closely with Charlestown anti-busing groups; that anti-busing leaders are working for public safety; that they are organizing peaceful demonstrations; that racism does exist in Charlestown; that anti-busing leaders are working to end violence. Conway says that Charlestown anti-busing demonstrations have been non-violent. 1:20:11: V: Stoia comments that many outsiders see Charlestown as a violent community. O'Shea says that violence and unrest are problems in many urban areas; that the media has given an extraodinary amount of coverage to violence in Charlestown.
