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MLK assembly at Mount Si High School turns controversial

12:40 PM PST on Friday, January 18, 2008

By ROBERTA ROMERO / KING 5 News

Martin Luther King Jr. assembly at Snoqualmie high school turns controversial.

SNOQUALMIE, Wash. - The fallout continues at Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie after a school assembly turned into a confrontation.  The assembly was scheduled to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr., but the guest speaker was attacked for his views on homosexuality.

The Mount Si High School student handbook clearly states the school believes in a diverse integrated curriculum.  That's one of the reasons a parent, Reverend Dr. Ken Hutcherson, was invited to Mount Si High School's Martin Luther King Jr. remembrance program to speak about his personal struggle with racism while growing up black in the rural South.

Hutcherson is also well-known for his strong stance against homosexuality.  But the assembly turned controversial when someone spoke up about his anti-gay stance.  

"My daughter introduced me," said Hutcherson. "There were some boos coming from the corner. I just kept going." 

"I think the students of Mount Si needed to know the truth, that he is not about equality for everyone.  He's about equality for some people," said Kit McCormick, teacher. 

McCormick is also the advisor to the school's Gay Straight Alliance.  She stood up and challenged Hutcherson's anti-gay stance. 

"I felt that I had not been disrespectful," said McCormick.  "I had asked a question and I felt like I couldn't sit and not say anything.  I felt like this was a moment that I had to stand up and say something."  

"Everybody has an opinion, but to express their opinion that way was quite wrong and inappropriate," said Hutcherson. 

Students themselves had mixed reactions.  Some applaud the teacher for speaking her mind. 

"We were really upset just to find out he was invited," said Austin Anderson, student.  "We specifically asked he not be because he seems to be kind of a hypocrite to us." 

But other students are sorry Hutcherson's message about how he overcame racism was overshadowed by the confrontation. 

"I don't think it was appropriate at all.  It was a personal conflict she had with his beliefs and she kind of ruined the message he was trying to send," said Michelle Rutledge, student. 

The principal felt the actions were inappropriate for that time and he wrote a letter to Hutcherson thanking him for his speech and apologizing for the actions of his staff members.  The letter will be mailed Friday.  

The principal has since met with the staff members involved.  He said he has not determined if any action will be taken against them.  Mount Si High School also plans to send out letters explaining the situation to parents and students.

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