Nonprofit Mississippi News On Tuesday night, the Forest Hill High School community rallied to demand that their beloved band director be given a second chance. The Brookhaven high school band performed a half-time performance on Oct. 5. It featured students shooting fake guns at law enforcement students. This performance was met with swift criticism from both the government and the public, as two Brookhaven officers had been killed and their bodies were found days before. The performance was condemned by Gov. Phil Bryant, the band’s director, condemned the performance on Facebook and said that “The adults involved in this disaster should be fired.” “We will not accept a covering-up,” Demetri Jones, the band’s director, later claimed that the performance was loosely inspired by the Denzel Washington movie John Q which depicts a hostage situation. The band was placed on restrictive probation by the Mississippi High School Activities Association for the remainder of the school year. Errick Greene, the new superintendent, thanked the audience at Tuesday’s school board meeting. According to the handbook, the band could be “fined or restricted in any way” for one calendar year. Greene stated that the district will appeal this decision. He said, “We are in agreement with the community that the students followed the instructions given to them and should not be held responsible for Brookhaven’s performance.” Brookhaven officials seem to agree. According to The Daily Leader, Tuesday night saw Brookhaven’s aldermen pass a resolution asking MHSAA for the lifting of the ban on Forest Hill band. Brookhaven Mayor Joe Cox stated in The Daily Leader that suspending Forest Hill students from participating in school activities is undue punishment for students who don’t share any culpability as they were acting under the direction of their band director.” JPS superintendent Greene explained that the district conducted a thorough investigation and interviewed students as well as all those involved. Greene stated that the district took personnel action based on the results of the investigation. He said that although this decision was not popular, it was necessary. Jones stated in a Facebook live interview that he received a letter explaining that the district had fired him as the band director. A district official didn’t clarify the action taken after the meeting. Forest Hill supporters booed Greene’s remarks, and flooded the board room and parking lot to support Jones’ character. Many of them held signs made by hand pledging support for Jones and the band. They were greeted with cheering and applause each time someone spoke up to defend the school. Alvin Jackson, a booster president and band parent, said that he felt the board had excluded parents from the decision. “I hate the superintendent’s reaction and his comments. Jackson stated that Jackson and his parents have not been addressed. Jackson stated that Jones is a student-focused educator who deserves a second chance. He said that he thought it was a mistake in judgment. Jamison Terry, an eleventh-grade band member, was present at Brookhaven’s performance. He told Mississippi Today that despite the drama, Jones and his peers do not want to see him go. The 16-year old said that he felt the situation had become too political. “It should be between the JPS and the Brookhaven districts.” Terry said that the suspension means the band cannot finish the remainder of the football season. This gives Terry “a really terrible feeling.” Terry and his friends really enjoyed performing at Senior Night, where high school seniors request songs to the band to perform. It’s like homecoming. … It’s supposed be a fun time for us, and it’s gone now.”