I find ECB's viewpoint to be condescending and insulting toward the CSAT students:

There are a group of students at the Charter School for Applied Technology--African American and Caucasian--monitoring this site, and it hurts to know that they will read what is here and feel a deep sense of sadness that other people don't understand what they know. ... CSAT crew, this is simply what surfaced. Don't think you're reading the majority opinion here.

If the students are considered mature enough to benefit educationally(?) by "monitoring" a blog like Buffalo Rising, then there's no need for them to be coddled or shielded from seeing a broad diversity of opinions and attitudes.

The CSAT students are perfectly capable of learning to put differing views into perspective and context, all as part of appreciating the value of free speech and open debate. In fact, instead of just monitoring, the students who want to do so should be allowed to register as users and comment either way on this topic or any topic on Buffalo Rising.

I wonder if "buffgayguy" likes it when people make comments negative about gaypride events last weekend? I'm sure he doesn't, and if he has a heart, knows what it feels like when people make generalizations about a sect of people. YOu would think, pending that you are gay, that you would be proud of different culutres celebrating what makes them what they are. I am gay, and get offended and try to educate others on differnet wlaks of life...it is the only thing we can do to ensure tolerance for the future. If you have nothing good to say...perhaps your mother should have told you not to say anything at all. I feel sorry for your upbringing and lack of education.

It's just a fact that they must have been raised to hate us, it's only when I'm in Buffalo do I see and get treated so old school in public by people. If these kids were in NYC where I just moved from, they would see life differently and not shout such hated words to total strangers. I was so tempted to throw objects and start punching the next person to shout FAG or FAGET at me or someone I was with, but I know THAT would be wrong.

Lightofthemoon, The people who out shouted names to us out of nowhere were mostly teenagers in the area, the religious people didn't shout anything to us because the crowd in the area were already shouting at them. We were harrased by groups starting at Chippewa Street all the way into the Sqaure by people just walking by. Is it because we walk different or speak different that upsets people around here?

its just teenagers being stupid young immature teenagers...they'll grow up and realize what the world is really like when they go to college....dont let them get to you

The comments were not racist...they were set to imply Byron Brown's awful choice of sending swat teams out to a college party and wastting $40000 in the process. That was what the comments were in reference to...lighten up people...if it was a white guy festival and comments like this were being made then people wouldnt freak out nearly as much. I am not white so dont even try to play a card on me. The simple fact is that countless groups and races create parades and celebrations celebrating who they are and what they have become. But as soon as somebody makes a comment they respond with, "just because i am _____ doesnt mean im any different than you". I dont go aroudn having a brown kid in med school parade!....if you are having parades to celebrate your individuality and culture you have to accept that there are infact going to be people that see you as exactly that....

White Allentown guy. Attending Juneteeth this year. Went last year and the year before that.

I'm a foodie. They have good food at this festival. Found the rest enjoyable. Nice people.

Why don't you go to this festival. Then judge.

LightoftheMoon - very well put.

Marcia - I understand what you're saying too, but we all can be ignorant and embarrassing about different things at times. To me the more important a topic is, all the more benefit to freedom of expressing diverse opinions even at the risk of showing those qualities.

If CSAT students also regularly read or monitor the Challenger newspaper (which I think is as good an idea as them monitoring Buffalo Rising), they'll often see columns and editorials that are much more stark about E Side crime than are comments 1 to 4 of this thread which caused a few overboard reactions.

If anything about this is worth holding breath over, it'd be the overreactions, political correctness, and the idea that it's ok for some people to say some things but if others say essentially the same thing then it's attacked as being bigoted. I don't think those concepts promote true unity, only superficial.

What did your nephew and his classmates think about the comments here in total? Does he think the open discussion even if sometimes uncomfortable is a positive thing, or does he think people should be very cautious about sharing unpopular opinions? Curious what are their views on the bigger picture.

Excellent, sounds like he's getting a good range of views. He'll find comments 1 and 4 here mild by comparison to what he reads from several Challenger columnists in their rightful outrage. If I quoted directly from some of those and posted it on BR, there'd a lot of complaints from people who breath-hold or scream bigotry even in what Heather wrote for example. It's sometimes strong stuff and very open about discussing violent crime.

I'm not arguing with anything you wrote. Don't mean it to sound that way.

I understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I personally do not believe in wasting seconds out of my day trying to change the mindset of people who just don't get it. I also most certainly do not pull the race card. The main point I want to make is that I am the Multicultural Sales Manager for the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau. I work daily to sell and promote this region as a convention and tourism destination. I reach out to multicultural organizations around the country to get them to bring their events here and guess what? They do! Juneteenth is one of the many festivals my clients are excited to experience when visiting our city. I've learned to rarely read the comments posted on this site anymore. I prefer to live my life on a positive note and regardless of any childish comments, I love the city of Buffalo and all the people and events that help make this city what it is.

Marcia - I just think your 13 year old nephew can see everything here and learn how to sort it all out. That's why I found it condescending to imply that he should see only positive comments.

ebonylove - It is you who are stating assumptions about what I'm assuming. I assumed none of the things you assumed I did.

Which are the comments from Ebony? In some other article? I'll be happy to read the, as you suggest, but I don't see them here. If my thought that they should comment is already happening, that's good to hear. I never said they weren't already.

Regarding being upset or disheartened by comments one reads or anywhere or hears in real life, that's the price of open debate.

Quite possibly HeatherSmiles was upset or disheartened when Kern's comment called her out by name (in capital letters) as shamefully bigoted for her simply saying ''Anyone from the Elmwood crowd heading to this parade?" in the fourth comment here.

If we could ensure nobody ever got upset or disheartened while still having free and open speech, then of course I'd want it so. But it's impossible to do both.

Oh man...I was waiting for someone to pull the race card...Shocking it took so long. What part about my statement is "bigoted"? It never fails that just about anytime some sort of discussion is held regarding something dealing with the african american community, the minute someone says anything even somewhat negative, the race card follows quickly behind it...so lame!

So, will our distinguished Mayor authorize a similiar Buffalo Police Department (and other surrounding municipalities) response to this "celebration" as he did with the Canisius College Spring Fest? Me thinks not...

I find it pathetic that this site and its constituents can't recognize that good things happen in the city outside of the elmwood and allentown areas! Believe it or not, comments like what is stated above are what help lead to the already growing racial problems in this city. I am ashamed of the people that make rude comments to celebrate different heritage than thier own...regardless if they are being sarcastic or not. I live in allentown and will be attending this event, not only to support my friends, but also to taste some really good food. I am proud to be a daily part of the youth of this city, and at least I can see that the future of this city isn't nearly as biased as the people who comment on here. I am appauled and disgusted at some of these comments, and the assumption that any gathering of other cultures warrants extra police involvement and protection. Ironically, I am much more scared of white people than I am of African Americans. I hope that one day...the people of this site can venture out and see things other than themselves...you may be surprised and like what you see. peace!:)

I love it that the first four post show the level of stupidity that resides on BuffaloRising. In fact, you bunch of losers, this white, Elmwood Village resident is actually considering going to Juneteenth this year. I've never been, sounds great (I love drumming), figure I'd experience something new...the same goes for the Grease Pole festival on the West Side. But some of your comments are WAY out of line.

Are we going to have random shootings at the event this year? Think we should have extra police here just in case. Seems to be a part of this event for who knows how many years in a row now.

Thanks Elena for your vision, as well as the planning team of this event....I'm sure the students at CSAT know this isn't the majority...and they, the future, do know what others can only envision...they live it everyday! By no means, will the posts of a few ignorant people get them down. They can rise above this, and prove that Buffalo's segregation label is just that...a label, which can be changed. As I work with them, and the hoards of youth after them, I can only help to at least educate and liberate the stigmas of society for a few and watch it grow exponentially.

1. Race isn't a card. It isn't some kind of trick that people play. It's real and it has real effects. The sooner we retire "playing the race card" from common usage, the sooner we can get down to the task of reversing those effects.

2. The mayor called in that ridiculous police response to the Canisius party because he lives two blocks away.

3. White, West Side, gone before but not going this year.

Off to another topic (Gays in Buffalo) I find it ironic that we just celebrated Gay Pride last weekend and we are still being harrased by people right in the streets of downtown Buffalo. I went to Thursday at the Square last night with some friends and just minding our own business when at least 5 DIFFERENT GROUPS at different sections just felt like they had to scream out FAGS at us....Did we do anything to start this? NO...funny, How I just moved here from NYC and the entire time I lived there NOT ONCE was I EVER degrated by complete strangers in the street for simply being myself, I come back to this town thinking it has finally changed (just alittle) and 5 DIFFERENT GROUPS of people destroy my entire experience of being back here. I'm thinking of moving back to NYC where different is norm and noone gives a f*(*@ what and who you are.

Freedom? Whose freedom? I can tell you all that the black community isn't free. Bogged down with violence, lack of respect, and the love of all things material and of course there's that damn racism thing that still exists. And we won't never forgive the white race for what Vanilla Ice did to our music.

Sure, there are times when people seem to claim racism is at play when it's convenient for them and when the claim seems unsupported by the facts. Three things about that, though:

1. There's a big difference between saying "that claim is unwarranted" and saying "don't play the race card." The former is rational and recognizes the possibility that race may be at play, while the latter trivializes the whole concept. We can get rid of one without losing the other.

2. The perception of both race and racism is wildly subjective. There's no consensus about what these terms mean, either in academic circles or on the street. An objective basis for judgment is hard to find. Add to that the fact that everyone has a different lived experience, and it gets real hard to tell someone that their perception of racism is false.

3. Finally, that perception IS reality for that person, no matter what anyone else thinks about it. And the rest of us have to live with the effects of that perception -- whatever they may be -- regardless of what we think of it. It seems to me, then, that the effort to not offend people is less a knee-jerk reaction than a recognition that there are a whole lot of realities out there for us to navigate if we want to get along successfully.

I don't necessarily think that either of thier comments were racist either, but it is wierd how you can sense a feeling of sarcasm in your comments inrelation to this article. HOw about the only comments beig posted should relate to the positives that this festival has...does there even have to be a mention of police intervention? I must have missed in the article where they were mentioned. I think the only comments needed are for the positives of the festival...and the really good authentic jerk chicken that will be there. lets focus on that, and forget about the negative connotations that are associated with police presence.

Here's one more voice to say SHAME ON YOU, MBHXAM, BUFFGAYGUY, GDC, AND HEATHERSMILE!

Having long attended the Junteenth Festival in Bflo, I am embarassed here in Mpls to read such bigoted statements in what is still listed by the US Census as one of the most segregated US metro areas. The world is watching & such comments badly bruise efforts to revive Bflo's great potential.

Juneteenth is a wonderful place to take children to educate them about the cultural richness of the black community in Buffalo.

Dick Kern (in Mpls)

AtwaterLouse....I feel that the word "monitoring" doesn't need to be used in " " nor does your use of the word educationally. These students check this site regularly...as there has been an article in the past by ECB mentioning the positves of promoting diversity and tolerance that these kids are promotoing on a dialy basis. The article featured them....hence they check the site regularly. Please check your facts before making assumptions on what is educational about checking a blog and what is not. As for free speech, they are not debating the right to have or participate in free speech...in fact "monitoring" (as you so elegantly used in " ") a blog such as this, if anything, is promoting their knowledge and acceptance of different opinions. However, they also have the right to be uspet over some of the connotations regarding some of the original comments. As for being coddles or shielded, please try to walk in thier shoes before assuming you know what they know. Perhaps it is disheartening for them to try and change and make a positive step when people clearly aren't completely ready for this...perhaps they have been mislead a bit into the nature of some of the readership on here...who knows. As for commenting...read the ones from Ebony....maybe you would be able to catch on. Collective minds have already been commenting...don't always assume to know what you don't!

Off to another topic (Gays in Buffalo) I find it ironic that we just celebrated Gay Pride last weekend and we are still being harrased by people right in the streets of downtown Buffalo. I went to Thursday at the Square last night with some friends and just minding our own business when at least 5 DIFFERENT GROUPS at different sections just felt like they had to scream out FAGS at us....Did we do anything to start this? NO...funny, How I just moved here from NYC and the entire time I lived there NOT ONCE was I EVER degrated by complete strangers in the street for simply being myself, I come back to this town thinking it has finally changed (just alittle) and 5 DIFFERENT GROUPS of people destroy my entire experience of being back here. I'm thinking of moving back to NYC where different is norm and noone gives a f*(*@ what and who you are.

Lightofthemoon, The people who out shouted names to us out of nowhere were mostly teenagers in the area, the religious people didn't shout anything to us because the crowd in the area were already shouting at them. We were harrased by groups starting at Chippewa Street all the way into the Sqaure by people just walking by. Is it because we walk different or speak different that upsets people around here?