Desmond Clark, School Join Sides To Promote Diversity
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CHICAGO (CBS) -- There appears to be a resolution at hand to the dispute between former Chicago Bears tight end Desmond Clark and administrators at Vernon Hills High School.
Clark announced the partnership following a march against racism to the school from the north suburb's police station, with his wife and 30 supporters.
The ex-Bear was charged with disorderly conduct and his wife Maria with disorderly conduct and assault following a discussion Aug. 29 about discipline administered to their son, a senior who claims he has been the target of racism since enrolling as a freshman.
Clark said he and his wife met Tuesday night with school administrators and the District 128 school board, and while Clark refused give details, he said the two sides have agreed to work together to provide better diversity education.
"When this first happened it was like, 'Why did this happen to us?' And when we sat back and thought about it, now we're happy that it happened to us, because it could have been another family in a different position that didn't have … the platform to stand up against it," he said.
Clark said at a news conference earlier this month that his son attended a school event involving lip-syncing teams but was not allowed to participate because of a disciplinary issue. The son objected and Clark claims an administrator called him some names that were "not-so-nice," with racial undertones.
He did not wish to revisit the incident at a news conference Wednesday following the march or say what discipline was administered, although he said his son returned to the school's football squad last week.
It was also unclear what will happen to the charges, although Clark said they still had to appear before a judge in Waukegan Oct. 2. Each is free on $25,000 bond.
