I’m sure you’ve seen Carmelo Anthony do his signature “three to dome” sign and Lebron James do something similar after shooting a three-pointer.  A young high school basketball player from Sheboygan Falls imitated the players he admired but it came at a steep price.

Three African-American brothers Jordan, Jamal and Juwaun Jackson were featured in the Sheboygan Falls News as new players in the district.  The paper took pictures of the brothers who decided to do one serious picture and one goofy picture.  The newspaper decided to run the goofy pic and the pose got them in trouble.  One brother did the three-point sign and another pointed to the camera.  Parents and the school deemed the poses as “gang signs” and the two brothers were suspended.

“I did it like every other kid does it when they make a 3,” said Sheboygan Falls Senior, Jordan Jackson.  ”When you make a three, everyone does this sign.  You’ve probably seen LeBron James or someone do it.  I did the three in the picture, and my little brother pointed at the camera,”

The Superintendent said some students did not feel safe because of the picture and the police department confirmed the sign was affiliated with the “blood” gang.

“I had no idea.  They told us it meant blood,” said Jordan Jackson.

Sheboygan Falls is reportedly 96.1% white and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reacted to the suspension and launched an investigation.

“It appears as if the Sheboygan Falls school district and police department are unprepared to respond to the increasing diversity in the schools in an appropriate and educationally sound manner,” the statement reads. ”The ACLU will be seeking information from the schools in order to assess their compliance with pupil non-discrimination rules.”

As for the news editor who decided to run the picture; Jeff Pederson said “I thought it kind of worked with the story, which was a positive story.”

Source: 620WTMJ

– Shaina Auxilly (@Shay_Marie)