Queens school brawl raises safety concerns; Union demands action

RICHMOND HILL, Queens (WABC) -- A brutal brawl was caught on camera at a high school in Queens, and sadly, many say this is the new normal.

Dozens of students were involved in the melee, and those tasked with protecting the entire student body are speaking out about what they consider dangerous conditions.

The incident happened March 10 inside Richmond Hill High School, with students saying the violence unfolded on the second floor.

Gregory Floyd is the president of Local 237, the union that represents school safety agents.

"When I saw that brawl and I heard there was a gang initiation, I said we have to stop this," he said.

He obtained the cell phone video shot and says he is very concerned, demanding the city make changes at a school where the are no metal detectors.

"There were weapons left outside the perimeter," he said. Knives, a couple of kitchen knives and cutting material."

One student tells Eyewitness News that her friend was part of the fight, which reportedly involved only girls.

"They don't do anything at all in terms of preventing things like this," the student said. "This is constant, all of the time."

Officers from the 102nd Precinct are at the school every day, keeping a watch on things. But some students say that gives them little comfort.

"It's not worth fighting," one student said. "I make the right decisions. I'm not into that."

Floyd says better safety measures need to be put in place, and a gang intervention policy implemented.

"The employees, teachers, principals, students, our school safety agents are all at risk," he said. "And one day, we maybe not so lucky."