The show must go on

[bone-a-phone]

Band director takes it hard for playing at football game.
https://www.npr.org/2023/09/19/12001452 ... erformance

[b.williams]

[bloke]

The problem is those mean old Republican-run cities - like Birmingham...

...' bunch of fascists.

[iiipopes]

Speaking of Birmingham, Dad was at the Cumberland School of Law during the time it moved from Lebanon, Tennessee to Sanford University in Birmingham in 1960-61, and Mom was pregnant with me that spring. So I was there, even though I didn't know it, during the time of the Freedom rides. Hearing about incidents such as this, in relation to and compared with what Mom observed, are disappointing, troublesome, worrisome; moreover, that it appears we haven't progressed a single step in civil rights; indeed, it appears we may, as a country, be backsliding into something even worse.

[Mary Ann]

I'm literally avoiding listening to the news because truthfully I just don't want to know what's going on when there is nothing I can do about it. So far, I have not seen mayhem in Tucson. And where I live, it's a far reach for mayhem based on location -- no bus line within several miles. However, when I was leaving the house for a rehearsal the other day, and turning out of my cul de sac, there was one of those sort of ratty not shiny black old cars facing the other way, and the occupant, a young man, was turning his head so I could not see his face. And as I got a block farther away after I made my turn, I saw another similar two cars approaching from the other direction, and wondered if mayhem was on its way to my neighborhood. My house was fine when I got home, and I have heard nothing from neighbors, but I do suspect something not right was going on, on a Sunday about 11am. I went so far as to get my firearm back out and loaded, and I would far prefer to not have the opportunity to use it on an uninvited visitor inside my house. I'm glad I have my 22' long truck parked in the driveway, because about 100% of people are going to assume a man lives here.

[bloke]

Speaking of Birmingham, Dad was at the Cumberland School of Law during the time it moved from Lebanon, Tennessee to Sanford University in Birmingham in 1960-61, and Mom was pregnant with me that spring. So I was there, even though I didn't know it, during the time of the Freedom rides. Hearing about incidents such as this, in relation to and compared with what Mom observed, are disappointing, troublesome, worrisome; moreover, that it appears we haven't progressed a single step in civil rights; indeed, it appears we may, as a country, be backsliding into something even worse.

completely agree...People are now - as then - being scapegoated based on their appearance, but it's different-looking people.

[bort2.0]

That guy sure didn't do anything to try and help the situation. Not saying he should have been tazed, but he sure picked a weird thing with which to show utter defiance.

My guess:
Loses his job and his teaching license (and I agree, how could he be trusted again with the welfare of 100+ kids?!)
Settles out of court
We never hear about him again

[bloke]

That guy sure didn't do anything to try and help the situation. Not saying he should have been tazed, but he sure picked a weird thing with which to show utter defiance.

My guess:
Loses his job and his teaching license (and I agree, how could he be trusted again with the welfare of 100+ kids?!)
Settles out of court
We never hear about him again

nope.
aftermath - so far:

AEA [Alabama Educational Association] leaders voiced their support for Mims and called on the school to let him go back to work.

The incident occurred at P.D. Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham during "fifth quarter" – a tradition that originates at Historically Black Colleges and Universities where school bands face off, taking turns to play music after a football game comes to an end.

"It is a big cultural thing that happens amongst bands. Something that everybody looks forward to," Mims said.

I grow weary of EVERY DAMN THING being labeled "racist", but - if this was white cops - this was racist.

[bort2.0]

Well shoot, I just wrote a ton and lost it.

Short version:
There was a no 5th quarter rule, which both bands knew
Cops asked the other band to stop, and they did
Mims chose FAFO
Cops probably didn't need to taze him
Total disregard and terrible leadership by the director
How in the world could you keep a teaching job after this?

[bloke]

I think all he was doing was finishing up a tune...

Amazingly, as modestly as they tend to be paid most police officers are great people and somehow always seem to use good judgment, but there are also idiots and dumbasses in police forces just like in any other industry.

As there is no longer any such thing as civilization, I don't go to any public events - other than concerts and such where I'm paid to play, and - if it's some huge outdoor event (where there's no stage door - and I'm penned in there until a whole bunch of people leave), I tend to turn those sorts of gigs down... just too much chance of being caught in gunplay crossfire. I do go in and out of a major city to pick up and deliver repair work, but I certainly don't dawdle, and I'm not dumb enough to stop anywhere in that city for food or gas (nor for any other reason).

Before Eddie Van Halen died, he did a concert at Graceland. I sure wanted to go hear that - and the ticket prices were very affordable, but there's no way I'm going to go to some place like that, leave my car parked somewhere and sit with a large group of people in a chaotic city for that long of a period of time. More recently, Asleep At The Wheel came through and played at a small venue. That would have been just as amazing, and I think the cover was only $25, but again: no way.

Otherwise, when that city is in the way between me and where I'm going, the outer loop freeway is my best friend.