Pa Human Rights will air strife on South Philly High

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission will be addressing the racial strife at South Philadelphia High School later this month at its next regular meeting, an agency spokeswoman said today.

The commission already had been scheduled to meet in Philadelphia on Dec. 21, but the violence between black and Asian students that erupted last week is now part of the agenda, said spokeswoman Shannon Powers.

School Superintendent Arlene Ackerman is being invited to the agency's closed-door morning session to "talk about what action the school district has taken to address the conflicts at South Philadelphia," Powers said.

Ackerman is also being invited to the commission's afternoon public meeting, as will other public officials, Powers said.

The commission typically investigates matters of discrimination that may be violations of state law, but it also looks into "tension incidents" like violence between racial groups, Powers said.

There is no official commission investigation underway of what transpired at the high school, Powers said.

The public meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the commission's Philadelphia office on the 5th floor of 110 N. Eighth St.

Contact staff writer Robert Moran at 215-854-5983 or bmoran@phillynews.com.