An article helps explain the judge's actions:
Quote:
One week after he cleared his courtroom of white people so he could have a “fireside chat” with the black defendants assembled before him, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Marvin S. Arrington Sr. offered an explanation and—for anyone offended by his act—an apology.
“There were no official acts” during the private lecture, he said, “just a frank chat.”
....Arrington's decision to hold a “black-only” chat last week came after he had finished a morning slate of bond revocations and sentences, according to an attorney who was present....
....While his decision to ask whites to leave may have been puzzling to some, Mitchell said he understood Arrington's reasoning.
“He's old school, the same school I'm from,” said the lawyer. “The way we came up, if you've got to fuss at your people, you do it in private. I think he was correct, from his life experience, to take that route. … He didn't know what he was going to say, or what the reaction would be, but it was heavy on his heart and he had to say it.”
Arrington's chat, he said, was punctuated with “amens” from the gallery, and concluded with a round of applause.
“Then he brought the white lawyers back in, and they huddled around the bench, and he spoke to them privately,” said Mitchell. “I don't know if he apologized or what, but they were supportive.”
http://www.dailyreportonline.com/Edi...2F2008%4022435
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Based on the story, I applaud the judge for what he did....
after court business was completed.
But I agree with Host....I do have to wonder why one feels a need to search out stories about black public figures...and say its not about race?
Context matters!