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American Morning
Overreaction?
Aired May 08, 2003 - 07:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Two high school students have been interrogated by the Secret Service, because their teacher thought they might be threatening the life of President Bush. And the teacher says during a class discussion, one of the boys said something like, "We need a sniper to take care of Bush." And that the other boy said, "Yes, I'd do it."
The boys say it was just a joke.
Dan Kerman (ph) of KRON reports what happened next was not funny at all.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The end of the day for you guys to make a decision.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): For years, the classroom has been the setting for the free expression of ideas, but two weeks ago, certain ideas led to two kids being taken out of class and grilled by the U.S. Secret Service.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They were so shaken up and so afraid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, other teachers are coming to the aid of the two students, and crying foul.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would start with the teacher. I think she made a very poor judgment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we're very concerned about academic freedom or we're concerned that students feel that they have a right to free expression in the classroom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even worse, they say, is the fact that the students were grilled by the federal agents without legal counsel or their parents present, just the principal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, when one of these students asked them, he says, look, you know, could we have some assistance with this or something? Can't we -- do we have to talk to you right now? Can't we get -- can we remain silent? Can we get legal counsel? They were told, look, we own you, OK? You don't have a right -- after what you've done, you don't have any more rights.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't want federal agents or police coming in our schools, interrogating our children just at the whim of someone who has a hunch something might be wrong. I don't think that is good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The union representing Oakland teachers is now calling on the district to require that students be afforded legal counsel and parental guidance before being interrogated by authorities. It's too late for the two involved in this incident, and teachers say it's something they'll carry with them for years.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I tell you, the looks on those children's faces, I don't know if they'll ever say anything about anything ever again. And is that what we want? I don't think we want that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Dan Kerman (ph) coming to us from KRON-TV.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired May 8, 2003 - 07:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Two high school students have been interrogated by the Secret Service, because their teacher thought they might be threatening the life of President Bush. And the teacher says during a class discussion, one of the boys said something like, "We need a sniper to take care of Bush." And that the other boy said, "Yes, I'd do it."
The boys say it was just a joke.
Dan Kerman (ph) of KRON reports what happened next was not funny at all.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The end of the day for you guys to make a decision.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): For years, the classroom has been the setting for the free expression of ideas, but two weeks ago, certain ideas led to two kids being taken out of class and grilled by the U.S. Secret Service.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They were so shaken up and so afraid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, other teachers are coming to the aid of the two students, and crying foul.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would start with the teacher. I think she made a very poor judgment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we're very concerned about academic freedom or we're concerned that students feel that they have a right to free expression in the classroom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even worse, they say, is the fact that the students were grilled by the federal agents without legal counsel or their parents present, just the principal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, when one of these students asked them, he says, look, you know, could we have some assistance with this or something? Can't we -- do we have to talk to you right now? Can't we get -- can we remain silent? Can we get legal counsel? They were told, look, we own you, OK? You don't have a right -- after what you've done, you don't have any more rights.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't want federal agents or police coming in our schools, interrogating our children just at the whim of someone who has a hunch something might be wrong. I don't think that is good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The union representing Oakland teachers is now calling on the district to require that students be afforded legal counsel and parental guidance before being interrogated by authorities. It's too late for the two involved in this incident, and teachers say it's something they'll carry with them for years.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I tell you, the looks on those children's faces, I don't know if they'll ever say anything about anything ever again. And is that what we want? I don't think we want that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Dan Kerman (ph) coming to us from KRON-TV.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
