Students held for protest released

The Haitian Lawyers Association and other groups are working to get the charges dropped.

MIAMI - More than two dozen studentsarrested after a demonstration got out of control at a Miami-Dade high school have been released, an attorney said Sunday.

Circuit Judge Barbara Areces found insufficient evidence to hold two juvenilesSaturday. Another 16 juveniles, most charged with resisting arrest and disturbing the peace, were given home detention until a Monday hearing.

Two 18-year-old students charged with resisting arrest with violence, disturbing a school assembly and disturbing the peace were released on bail after a hearing Saturday, said Karen Andre, an attorney with the Haitian Lawyers Association. Six other adult students were released on bail before the Saturday hearing, Andre said.

Attorneys with the Haitian Lawyers Association represented all students for their initial appearances. Other legal groups have joined the association to represent the students for no cost. Andre said attorneys will work to get the charges dropped.

The disturbance at Miami Edison Senior High School began shortly after 11 a.m. Friday during a protest by some students over the Thursday arrest of a fellow student, according to police. There were claims the student was handled roughly when arrested on charges of assaulting the assistant principal.

Dozens of police cars responded to the school north of downtown Miami, which has more than 1,100 students. Injuries to the officers included a dislocated shoulder, a broken nose, a twisted ankle, and cuts and bruises. None of the injuries was life-threatening. No students or teachers were seriously injured.

Students met with school officials Sunday to air concerns.

[Last modified March 2, 2008, 23:03:03]