This is one of those stories that took by breath away for a few seconds, and left me with a sick feeling. In Bay Village, Ohio, several sadistic teens from a local high school, decided to play a horribly cruel prank on a 15-year old student who has autism. While the unsuspecting student stood in a driveway, off school grounds, and in front of a garage, he awaited the
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Instead of ice cold water being poured, the heartless bullies poured a bucket of feces, urine, cigarette butts, and spit onto the student's head. Sadly, it's even worse. The victim's mother said this
in an earlier video:
“He was embarrassed because he did not know what the contents were until afterwards, and then he didn’t want anybody to know.”
“They used his phone to tape it, and they put it up on Instagram.”
The incident happened Wednesday, September 3, and the mother reported it to a local newsgroup to expose the bullying. After seeing the story, the community became enraged, and a
Change.org petition was created demanding the perpetrators be found and prosecuted. A few days later, actor/comedian/game show host,
Drew Carey, offered a $10,000 reward to find the teens responsible. Celebrities, Donnie Wahlberg, Montel Williams and Jenny McCarthy offered their support as well. The police stated the reward money was not necessary, as the identity of the responsible teens was known and they are under investigation.
The Bay Village School District Superintendent Clint Keeper responded with a statement saying he was 'heart sick over the cruel actions' taken against one their students. He offered his 'utmost sympathy to the family' and said the school district will work vigilantly with the police to complete the investigation. Bay Village Police Chief Mark Spaetzel said the prank was one of the most disturbing things he had ever seen during his career. At this point, the guilty teens could be charged with anywhere from a misdemeanor assault, to disorderly conduct. But many folks, including over 235,000 petitioners (and moving fast!) are demanding the teens be charged for a hate crime. Spaetzel said, in a petition update, that it will be difficult, at this time, to press charges for a hate crime. Current state laws require hate crimes pertain to race, national origin, and religion, and does not include disabilities.
“The bucket challenge is supposed to be raising awareness for this disease and now they’ve turned it into a sick joke,” said the victim’s mom. “I just can’t understand why kids would do something this cruel.”
I commend the parents for coming forth to expose the bullies in hopes of bringing more awareness and seeking solutions. And I join many others who are sending out love and prayers for the victim, and all victims of cruel bullying.
Sign: Petition To Prosecute Teens
For more information about bullying and what you can do, visit: The Bully Project
Update: The petition jumped 8,000 signatures overnight.