DECATUR, Ill. (AP) -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Tuesday school officials have one more chance to meet his demands for the treatment of six students expelled for a brawl at a football game.
Jackson had threatened to force school officials to have him arrested but relented when they offered to meet again. And school officials who had vowed tough action said Tuesday that the two sides had been communicating.Jackson said representatives from the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition would meet with school officials later Tuesday to discuss the expulsions in an effort to prevent a confrontation.
As police, protesters and curious students looked on outside Eisenhower High School, Jackson said if officials do not agree to review the students' punishments on a case-by-case basis and give them a chance to return to school by January, he would force a showdown.
"This really is the last time that we will talk," Jackson said outside the school.
Decatur Superintendent Kenneth Arndt said that talks had been continuing and that the school board would hold an emergency meeting meet Tuesday.