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KANSAS CITY, MO. -
More than 100 parents and students in Kansas City were planning to head to Washington D.C. Friday to join in a rally for education. But, instead they were left standing around waiting for buses that never came.
Now, Rev. Al Sharpton said he is suspending the Kansas City leaders until they find out who "dropped the ball."
Sharpton's organization, the National Action Network, organized the "Close the Gap" rally in Washington D.C. on May 16. People from all over the country planned to board buses provided by the group to head to D.C. and rally for children's education.
"We do not know who dropped the ball," Sharpton said in a statement released on Friday.
The "Close the Gap" rally was planned for the 55th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education. It's goal was to raise awareness of the continuing racial gap in American education, according to Sharpton's group.
Friday morning more than 100 students lined up at Arrowhead Middle School. Some parents people took off work, packed a lunch and gathered as well. They all waited at 6 a.m. for their bus to arrive. But, after several hours of sitting in a gym with luggage at their feat. It never did.
Sharpton's statement said that the Kansas City chapters were supposed to submit names and contact information for the riders two weeks before the event and that was not done. The statement continues that no one in Kansas City should have assumed free transportation because this information was not submitted.
"I have personally visited Kansas City twice and have nothing but respect for its citizens but clearly those citizens have been misled," Sharpton said.
Michele from Kansas City wrote on Al Sharpton's blog, "I am devastated by this news and Bishop is now left to the task of calling five bus load of people to tell them that the trip was canceled. Over half of the individual were not available, so she will have to be at the church at 6 am to inform all of these people of this issue."
Messages like Michele's are echoed from around other cities as well.
Michele went on to write, " I am a single mother of an autistic son, that at 9pm he was under the impression that he was going to Washington DC and now I have to task of trying to explain to him otherwise when he wakes in the morning. This is terribly disappointing to me and it will be double to him."
Bishop Saundra McFadden-Weaver organized the trip for kids on both sides of the state line through her church. She worked the phones all morning trying to arrange alternate transportation.
Just before Noon, McFadden-Weaver arranged to charter two buses to take the group. The student council and PTA agreed to pay $7,000 to help fund the trip.
"A lot of corporations funding buses backed out of the situation. I really don't understand why only 30-some buses were funded and actually on the ground," said McFadden-Weaver.
But, a representative for Sharpton said McFadden-Weaver knew two weeks ago that she wasn't going to get buses for her group because she missed the application deadline.
The kids were just happy buses did arrive to take them to Washington D.C.
"We really want to go. This is a once in a lifetime chance," said Victoria Crumpton.
When the students get back from their trip, they'll have some fundraising to do to pay for these buses. The school had to tap some discretionary funds in order to make this trip happen.
Now, Rev. Al Sharpton said he is suspending the Kansas City leaders until they find out who "dropped the ball."
Sharpton's organization, the National Action Network, organized the "Close the Gap" rally in Washington D.C. on May 16. People from all over the country planned to board buses provided by the group to head to D.C. and rally for children's education.
"We do not know who dropped the ball," Sharpton said in a statement released on Friday.
The "Close the Gap" rally was planned for the 55th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education. It's goal was to raise awareness of the continuing racial gap in American education, according to Sharpton's group.
Friday morning more than 100 students lined up at Arrowhead Middle School. Some parents people took off work, packed a lunch and gathered as well. They all waited at 6 a.m. for their bus to arrive. But, after several hours of sitting in a gym with luggage at their feat. It never did.
Sharpton's statement said that the Kansas City chapters were supposed to submit names and contact information for the riders two weeks before the event and that was not done. The statement continues that no one in Kansas City should have assumed free transportation because this information was not submitted.
"I have personally visited Kansas City twice and have nothing but respect for its citizens but clearly those citizens have been misled," Sharpton said.
Michele from Kansas City wrote on Al Sharpton's blog, "I am devastated by this news and Bishop is now left to the task of calling five bus load of people to tell them that the trip was canceled. Over half of the individual were not available, so she will have to be at the church at 6 am to inform all of these people of this issue."
Messages like Michele's are echoed from around other cities as well.
Michele went on to write, " I am a single mother of an autistic son, that at 9pm he was under the impression that he was going to Washington DC and now I have to task of trying to explain to him otherwise when he wakes in the morning. This is terribly disappointing to me and it will be double to him."
Bishop Saundra McFadden-Weaver organized the trip for kids on both sides of the state line through her church. She worked the phones all morning trying to arrange alternate transportation.
Just before Noon, McFadden-Weaver arranged to charter two buses to take the group. The student council and PTA agreed to pay $7,000 to help fund the trip.
"A lot of corporations funding buses backed out of the situation. I really don't understand why only 30-some buses were funded and actually on the ground," said McFadden-Weaver.
But, a representative for Sharpton said McFadden-Weaver knew two weeks ago that she wasn't going to get buses for her group because she missed the application deadline.
The kids were just happy buses did arrive to take them to Washington D.C.
"We really want to go. This is a once in a lifetime chance," said Victoria Crumpton.
When the students get back from their trip, they'll have some fundraising to do to pay for these buses. The school had to tap some discretionary funds in order to make this trip happen.
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