I understand why he did it, but there are less inappropriate and more effective fora to use.

Although Arrington admitted he might have been wrong, he said that after years of seeing the same black faces over and over again in his courtroom, he felt that something drastic was necessary.

Apr 2, 2008 · posted by Lauren Williams,

That is what I was trying to say yesterday. I am so long winded.

He might not have done it the right way….but somebody needed to do something….

I say hats off to Arrington and he should do this every time he gets a chance. These young black men needed to hear from another black male. They did not need feel like that were being degraded and/or chastised in front of the white privileged lawyers. I find it refreshing that someone is willing to say something to these kids. Too many of them are getting caught up in the judicial system. I say to Judge Arrington do it again and again and again and again and if the white lawyers and/or White America don't like it ~ GET OVER IT!!!

I am completely outraged by Judge Arrington's actions. I saw no real value in dismissing whites from the courtroom, other than to amplify the color-line that has divided our country for so many years. This hypocritical BS is the kind of thing that tears the country apart. If the tables were turned and a coutroom full of whites had asked the blacks to leave, NAACP would have demanded the resignation of the judge immediately and news would have been all over it.

Furthermore, a judge should be setting an example for our country by promoting equalization amongst races not condoning divisiveness. A criminal is a criminal, race doesn't matter- they broke the law! Does he give the same "pep talks" to white repeat criminals entering his court?

Having lived in Atlanta as a kid, I can see how it has changed. Atlanta kids of the '80's and 90's were the last to see Atlanta in all it's splendor. It seems that alot of the Old School Atlantans are dying out and it scares me for the Black Youth of Atlanta that don't have a proper family structure. They have closed schools and recombined rival schools that have left big messes. After they've realized it wasn't going to work, they turned them into Junior High schools and just left thousands of kids out of zone. they have to travel on public trans just to get to school which has them out of sorts longer. Even though I like Golf, to me it is a sport that fewer kids can participate in. A couple of the larger parks have allowed celebrity athletes to kill the soccer,football and baseball programs to foster Golf parks. They are intentionally leaving these kids with nothing to do. Not knowing where they belong because 10 can live on one street and they all go to different high schools away from the neighborhood. The inner city is predominately black. However, the suburban schools have new this and new that. Atlanta used to have the best of everything. They're turning Atlanta into a ghetto on purpose! They recently arrested a guy for taking kids to the basketball courts, but when I was growing up in Atlanta, boys played with the older crowds, their skills got better. A boy I went to high school with went to GA Tech to play and then went to Spain to play. They're trying to make sure there are no more of those in Atlanta. Yeah, he probably should have done it differently and included everybody, but if he sees what native Atlantan's see and talk about everyday, I can see where he's coming from!

When you come through Atlanta, you see kids just walking because they have nothing else to do. I know the Arringtons, they are great people, from Joe to Audrey, MJ and Joe Jr. to Pye, Granny and Yaunita and it's a whole bunch in between. All good people! Criminals can be any color, but that's not what he see's the majority of. He probably has 1 or 2 white defendants for every 20 defendants that he sees. Dr. King said, If you wana be great wonderful, but recognize that the greatest among you shall be your servant. That is the Arington family. Award winning teachers, lawyers, doctors etc. Even down to the ones who don't have degrees. They believe in rolling their sleeves up and helping get things done. He probably felt as if what he prescribed hadn't worked and he needed to do more.