Parent says students targeted, removed from bus because of race Youngest student removed was just 5 Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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COMMUNITY MEMBERS MET WITH SCHOOL BOARD OFFICIALS HERE TONIGHT TO ADDRESS AN INCIDENT ON A BUS LAST WEEK THAT A NUMBER OF PARENTS ARE CALLING DISTURBING. SOT :07 REBECCA MACK, MOTHER "THESE CHILDREN JUST EXPERIENCED SOMETHING THAT WAS SCARY SAD AND CONFUSING AND UNJUST." TRACK SHE'S SPEAKING OUT AFTER A GROUP OF STUDENTS - THAT INCLUDED HER DAUGHTER/SON - WERE FORCED OFF A BUS ON THEIR WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL... MACK BELIEVES THEY WERE TARGETED.BEC AUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN. SOT :03 REBECCA MACK, MOTHER "ALL OF STUDENTS I SAW WERE PEOPLE OF COLOR." TRACK ACCORDING TO MACK, THE KIDS HAD BEEN CLAPPING AND SINGING A SONG WHEN THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AND DEMANDED AS MANY 17 GET OFF.. TWO OF THEM WERE HER OWN KIDS. SOT :09 REBECCA MACK, MOTHER "I ASKED THEM THIS MORNING IF THEY FEEL SAFE GETTING ON THE BUS, THEY SAID IS THAT DRIVER GOING TO BE ON THE BUS? AND I SAID NO HE GOT MOVED TO A DIFFERENT LIE SO THEY SAID I'LL GO" TRACK MACK SAYS THE DRIVER THREATENED TO CALL THE POLICE ON THOSE WHO REFUSED. THE YOUNGEST WHO GOT OFF WAS ONLY 5. BUTTED SOTS :10 REBECCA MACK, MOTHER "IT IS VERY DISHEARTENING THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY SHOULD EXPERIENCE IN THE MORNING, DO YOU FEEL SAFE ON THE BUS?" THIOMAS CHTTENDED, GMT "NO CHILD SHOULD BE THROWN OFF A BUS ANYWHERE IN VERMONT." TRACK THOMAS CHITTENDEN IS THE CHAIR OF THE GREEN MOUNTAIN TRANSIT BOARD... HE SAYS THE COMPANY HAS LAUNCHED A FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT. SOT :06 THOMAS CHTTENDED, GMT "I HAD NOT HAD THIS IMPRESSION OF THIS IMPRESSION ABOUT GMT SO THIS IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR ME." TRACK THE MOTHER OF TWO KIDS INVOLVED WANTS THE DRIVER FIRED AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO REVIEW THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH G-M-T... SHE'S HOPING THE CITY CAN SEND A POSITIVE MESSAGE TO STUDENTS. SOT :08 REBECCA MACK, MOTHER "I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COMMUNITY RESPOND IN A WAY THAT SHOWS THE CHILDREN THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN TO THEM. THAT'S NOT RIGHT." THE CITY COUNCIL - ALSO LOOKING FOR ANSWERS ON THIS INCIDENT. THEY WROTE A LETTER TO G-M-T ASKING THEM TO COME TO THEIR MEETING NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW IT COULD BE PREVENTED IN THE FUTURE. PRESIDENT TRUMP BA

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