Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant spoke out for the first time on camera Monday about a controversial Forest Hill High School band performance.
In an interview with WJTV, Bryant called on Jackson Public Schools to take swift action in response.
Bryant says his initial response was “anger and frustration,” after seeing the halftime skit with the Forest Hill marching band pointing fake guns at other members of the band dressed as police officers in Brookhaven, where two police officers were gunned down.
Bryant says he’s sure the band students were doing what they were told to do and does not fault them. He adds that the responsible adults should be fired because the students and families of the fallen Brookhaven, Mississippi, officers deserve better.
“I don’t blame those children; they’re under the direction of some adult, but whoever let those children or instructed those children to reenact the murder of law enforcement officers during a football game… should be fired,” Bryant said Monday. “We do not need that type of individual, managing the lives of our children.”
WJTV spoke with the Bryant as he shared more on what he would like to see happen with those responsible.
“We cannot continue to let someone who led these children in that direction continue to lead children. Hold the adults responsible, not just the band director, but whoever knew about this.”
The Governor adds that those who made racist comments towards the band students at Forest Hill “should leave the state,” Bryant said. “Any idiot that would say something racial towards a child needs to find somewhere else to live, because we don’t want them here in Mississippi.”