Decatur, Ill., has become ground zero for the fight against zero tolerance policies that activists say place America�s youth in jeopardy. Due to the efforts of the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, the eyes of the nation are focused on the central Illinois town where seven young Black men were expelled from school Sept. 17 for two years without the option of alternative education. The punishment was set as a result of a fistfight that occurred during a high school football game between MacArthur and Eisenhower high schools that sent fans in the stands scrambling.

The seven-member Decatur School Board that voted 5-1 (with one absent) to apply the expulsions voted to do so along racial lines. The five "yea" votes came from whites. The lone "nay" vote came from a Black member. Another Black member was absent at the time of the vote. The term of one of the Black members recently expired and that member reportedly was replaced with a white member. That means the school system that is 40 percent Black students is governed by a board of six white members and one Black member. Additionally, the teacher ratio reportedly is more than 90 percent white.

Many Blacks in Decatur say they do not condone the actions of the young men, but they feel the penalty is excessive and most welcome the intervention of Rev. Jackson after local efforts to get the penalty reduced fell on deaf ears of the school board. In fact, many in the Black community rejoice that the community is finally uniting around something.

Some whites interviewed by The Final Call and other media, including the leader of the Ku Klux Klan who led a demonstration in support of the school board in Decatur, also felt the penalty was excessive. But racial tensions were heightened by the rancor with which many whites expressed their disapproval of Rev. Jackson sticking his head into their business.

The truth of the matter is, however, if Rev. Jackson had not intervened, the future of the seven young men would be even bleaker than it is today.

One of the young men expelled actually was the victim of the fight. Another youth had offers of scholarships to college and was a few hours away from graduation.

What does the expulsion without the possibility of attending an alternative school say for the compassion the school board feels for these youths? Does the fact that the Black member voted not to support a two-year expulsion mean that that member has more compassion for the youths? Are the white members callous toward the boys since they support the expulsion?

The bunker mentality taken by the school board toward Rev. Jackson�s overtures for a sensible resolution to the case demonstrates that public pride is taking precedence over concern for the boys. Furthermore, attention should be called to the arbitrary nature of applying the zero tolerance policy. There are no clearly defined written rules for it. In fact, you can�t find it mentioned in the school�s disciplinary policy.

Our jails are filling too fast already with young bodies who are being put on the fast track to incarceration because this country has hardened its heart toward them, particularly Black youth. The two year expulsions was evidence that the school system viewed these students, as they have viewed others before them�both Black and white�as throw-aways whose infraction of a rule put them beyond redemption.