Black family charged after cheering at a Mississippi high school graduation

"I might have to bond out of jail, pay court costs or a $500 fine for expressing my love, it's ridiculous"

Published June 3, 2015 5:18PM (EDT)

   (<a href='http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-670714p1.html'>sippakorn</a> via <a href='http://www.shutterstock.com/'>Shutterstock</a>)
(sippakorn via Shutterstock)

At every graduation ceremony, some official requests that the audience hold applause until every student has made their way across the stage. Reliably, everyone ignores this plea. However at Mississippi's Senatobia High School's graduation, there were consequences for one family who couldn't wait to cheer on their graduate.

Linda Miller was one of four people asked to leave the graduation ceremony after she cheered for her daughter, Lanarcia, as she was handed her diploma.

"A week or two later," said Ursula Miller, the girl's aunt, "I was served with some papers." Superintendent Jay Foster had charged the family with "disturbing the peace."

"It's crazy," said Henry Walker, Lanarcia's father. "The fact that I might have to bond out of jail, pay court costs or a $500 fine for expressing my love, it's ridiculous man. It's ridiculous."

Foster defended the charges, noting that he was determined to keep the peace.

Hey Foster? You sound like a real chill dude.

Watch WREG's segment below:


By Joanna Rothkopf

MORE FROM Joanna Rothkopf


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Crime Disturbing The Peace Graduation Local News Mississippi Race