PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - The death of Antwon Rose and the following trial of former East Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosfeld hit the Woodland Hills community more than most, It was where Rose went to school and had just graduated from before he was shot dead last June.
Woodland Hills principal Dr. Phillip Woods told KDKA Radio’s Lynne Hayes Freeland he has worked with the school’s student leaders to come up with a short term and long term plan on how to deal with the verdict, and the emotion that came with it.
“What’s the best fit for Woodland Hills What’s the best remedy for this moment that we’re in to get us get through it without shedding a negative light but rather taking this energy and channeling it into something positive that can last longer than a walkout, that can last longer than a prayer vigil,” said Wood.
Three student leaders, who were friends with Rose, joined Dr. Woods and said the last few days since Rosfeld’s not-guilty verdict have been busy.
“Everyone wants to express themselves in a certain type of way and we’ve just been in a rush to kind of organize students into a manner in which everyone’s satisfied but at the same time Antwon’s family is being honored and we’re getting toward our common objective,” said one of the students.
All three girls knew Rose and while the loss of their classmate has been tough to deal with, the school has grown stronger together.
“In school we have got closer . . . because everyone is looking out for one another,” said another student.
A large student protest took place in Downtown Pittsburgh Monday and while Woods didn’t deny anyone from attending the demonstration he said that the school was took a different route.
Woods had Rose’s mother come in who told the students to not protest. Social workers and other organizations were also on hand to help the students discuss how they were feeling and share their concerns.
The students say they are thankful that their school let them choose between the walkout and staying in school, “because I know that everyone is different in the way that they express their emotions,” said one of the students.
The students are also thankful for Rose’s mother coming to the school to speak.
“When the verdict was announced, you could feel the pain, through the radio, through the TV screens . . . you could just feel the raw pain and emotion that was coming out of that family and for his mom come up and present herself in such a strong way, it really touched me and you felt the energy in everything that was going on,” said one student.
Another one said, “My favorite part when she came was when she told us that there’s other to use our voice besides walking out. She said stay in school and if you don’t like the way things are being ran, run (for office) vote and I feel like it was encouragement for everybody.”
Listen below to find out what else Woodland Hills is doing to heal and move forward in a positive way.
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