Bay Area girl gang raped at school while witnesses watch but do nothing

A 15-year-old girl who went to her homecoming dance was repeatedly gang raped and beaten at Richmond High School for at least two hours while more than a dozen witnesses saw the assault but failed to call police, authorities said today.

The attack occurred Saturday around 9:30 p.m. after the girl had left the dance and was waiting for a ride from her father. She saw a male student she knew, who took her to a dark alley behind one of the school buildings, Richmond police said.

Police said alcohol was consumed but were awaiting toxicology tests.

The male student and about six others began raping and beating the girl. As she struggled, more than a dozen witnesses passed by or watched what was going on. The ordeal lasted 2 to 2 1/2 hours, police said.

"The victim was beaten, sexually assaulted and robbed," said Lt. Mark Gagan. "What's equally disturbing is that other people saw what was going on and did nothing."

Police were finally called after a female student overhead people talking about the rape. She called 911 and told dispatchers what she had heard, according to Gagan.

The girl was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

A former student, Manuel Ortega, 19, was arrested a few blocks away Saturday night and booked on charges of rape, robbery and kidnapping, Gagan said. Ortega was being held Monday on $800,000 bail.

Investigators were questioning two students Monday evening at the police station in Richmond, a city of 104,000 16 miles northeast of San Francisco.

-- Robert J. Lopez

Comments

[Christina Lopez]

This is so sad. People saw that was going on and did nothing. If they were to scared they could have at least called the police. I feel so bad for this girl and i hope she is going to be okay, and the guys that did that to her go to jail!

[Mike]

That's pretty sick.

[grace]

Animals will always be animals. But I am outraged that these people did not have the decency to do something about it. Where are their morals. One day someone they love will suffer like this, and then they'll realize just how inhumane it is to stand by and watch.

[Cris]

It doesn't surprise me that no one did anything. Thats what this country produces now is a bunch of cowards. Todays society has accepted criminals over the saviors of our society. Our society needs a rude awakening.

[Acadian Canadian]

We have a few psychos up here in Vancouver, BC, but this is beyond anything we've ever experienced. And people just walked by or stood and stared! I'm 24 and a college graduate and I'm shocked that young people today have no respect for human life. Lock them up and keep them locked up!

[Verballistic]

Richmond is the troubled area featured in the well-known movie, "Coach Carter", which was based on a true story of a hoops coach who helped turn around a pathetic high school basketball team, teaching some valuable life lessons in the process!!

Looks like Richmond not only needs a lot more Coach Carters, but a lot more cops policing the campus area, since too many of the students lack even enough of a conscience to call the police when they see a brutal rape/beating taking place right in front of their eyes!! Compared to that, the hoops team really wasn't that pathetic after all...

[Walt Barker]

This should never have happened.
It should never have been allowed to happen.
Someone should've stepped up to the plate.
We should all feel ashamed about what happened to this poor little girl.

[msladygee]

This pains my heart...what kind of world do we live in where people see someone being assaulted and do nothing...God have mercy on us!!

[Tracey]

I cannot fathom why people would not be concerned about someone being beaten much less raped. Let this be a less to women that while men may be stronger than us they are be no means willing to use their strength (or their cellphones) to help us. Thankfully a women called 911. The next time I see a man getting beaten, maybe I will walk on by too.

[JP]

Pathetic! How do you "witness" such an act and do nothing? Not even left a finger to call the cops. They should identify and publicly publish the names of those who saw what was going on and humiliate them all. COWARDS! What if that girl was one of your loved ones? I hope you are all proud of yourselves!

[Jane]

I agree that it's horrible that it took more than two hours for a person with a drop of conscience to call 911. But I'm not surprised...try searching the LA Times web site for the names Tyquan Knox and Khristina Henry to see what happens to a high school student who dares to report a crime to the cops. They don't protect witnesses from retribution, so of course people are too scared to report anything. If we really want to crack down on crime, we need to help the people who are brave enough to report it, so more people will come forward.

[Alice]

To Verballistic: More police doesn't seem to be a solution. In fact, I think people are all too willing to avoid personal responsibility by relying on others (such as having more police), when they could easily have called for help. It seems to me that to some extend, it is everyone's personal responsibility to ensure the area they live in remains a safe place. Sadly, it seems to me that in your country it's quite fashionable to avoid personal responsibility and blame just about everything on someone else.

[Bealzabubba]

Like everyone else, I think, I'm absolutely appalled at the lack of response by those who witnessed, but chose not to act.

This is apparently referred to as the "bystander effect," and sometime, more appropriately, as the "Genovese syndrome."

Google "Kitty Genovese" if you want to learn a bit more, and see that this sickening lack of action is sadly nothing new.

[Dan]

This is inexcusable and disgusting, but it's neither new nor surprising. Diffusion of responsibility (a.k.a. the bystander effect), a phenomenon in which otherwise good (or at least neutral) observers do nothing because they assume someone else will, has been well-known since the days of Kitty Genovese, whose prolonged assault and murder was witnessed by 38 people, none of whom so much as called 911 - in fact, some even pulled up chairs next to their windows to watch. As a society, we have a long way to go - don't think for even a second that this just has to do with "kids nowadays".

[Kala]

What do you mean non-life threatening injuries??? She is going to develop severe, SEVERE psychological issues. How is that not non-life threatening... My thoughts and prayers go out to her.

[Mike]

way to try and make this about sexism Tracy....

and of course two wrongs make a right...

stick it to the "evil Men".... by letting someone innocent get beaten...

you disgust me... the same mental gymnastics you use to justify your horrific statement are probably the same as what some of the witnesses were thinking...

[Adrienne]

How horrifying! What the hell is wrong with people who have no moral compass? All of these boys (?) need to go to prison for the long haul. Their parents as well. What are they teaching (or NOT) these kids? Sick, sick, sick. They aren't all here illegally, are they???????

[Karen]

My heart go out to that young ladie . My mind go crazy to now poeple was watching n didn't do nothin about it what the world coming to that a shame .I hope all them boys pay for what they done and to the young ladie ,I wish u well and your family . I will keep you in my pray.

[curious]

Tracey, please don't make this a male versus female battle. You are forgetting the countless number of males who have, and continue to, come to the aide of females in dire circumstances, or whom have sacrificed their lives so that females may have the chance to live.

Concentrate your anger on the subjects who brutalized this young girl, not on the male gender, in general.

[John Smith]

Richmond, California is a sample of what the rest of this country will be like in a few decades. But, hey, at least the Democrats will increase their political power (more government-dependent people equals more Dem's), and a few millionaires will have their cheap labor. Hurray.

[LR]

The people that are guilty of this crime are animals. We need to bring back the stockades from centuries ago and put these savages in shackles in front of the whole community...street justice.

[Erica]

I think that the people who simply stood by and did nothing to help the 15 year old should be charged failure to aid the young girl. I think they would think twice of not helping out another human being in a dire situation when they lose their freedom for a nice orange jumpsuit and spending some time in bars. Those people disgust me as much as the rapists.

[Politically Incorrect]

No one reported it while it was in progress because she was white. In today's multicultural Amerika, whites are the victims of racial onslaughts at hundreds times the rate of other races, yet the media only screams when something happens to the protected classes. If this girl had been black and the perpetrators white there would be 24/7 news coverage on all networks and Sharpton And Jackson would be marching at the head of the lynch mob.

[Warren]

We can only hope that street justice takes care of Manuel Ortega while he's in jail.

[kristasimmons]

This is an example of displacement of responsibility for the psych books if I've ever heard one. Human beings can be such sad, sad creatures.

[Lina]

WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR BOYS/MEN?!!
Whether its poor Richmond ones or filthy rich ones, so many of them are vile and disgusting creatures capable of things such as this. God help her. This event will continue to haunt this poor girl for the rest of her life. HORRIFYING.

[TheBigPicture]

That's why California needs to get on board with CCW permits...one armed citizen could have taken care of that problem in about 5 seconds...Depending on his marksmanship skills, there probably wouldn't be a bunch of costly court procedures and incarceration housing...

[Me]

You people who stood there and watch disgust me. How can you be so inhuman? You are just as guilty as those who raped the child.

[Ramon]

Well..what did you expect? We the People of California who support Roman Polonski see this as "Normal" behavior. Shoot, Roman Polonski would beg to differ in this situation, and say that she was just enticing the boys and that she was asking for it. Because at the end of the day, isn't this the way Hollywood would have it? Just ask Roman. Our culture has now been desensitized to the point that our children do not want to get involved. How sad.

[been there, done that]

I grew up in this sick culture (in LA), and this story is just one in a million that makes the papers. My take on it is that no one reported it because it was a Chicano gang attacking a white girl (purely racist and easy underrepresented prey). First of all, no one will turn on the "gang" for justifiable fear of losing their life. And secondly, Hispanics, even those not affiliated with gangs, accept the attacks against Whites, Blacks and Asians passively. Almost all of them turn a blind eye. In So. CA schools, the Chicano gangs are most prevalent, although there are some black gang strongholds in So. LA, and some smaller pocket Asian gangs. There are no White school gangs, making White kids easy and favorite prey (no white gangs to come back and get even). Kids who are stuck in a school where their race is the minority (the majority of So. CA public schools are Chicano gang based) live in fear due to the gangs (hence, "White flight", White/Asian private schooling and fierce fighting between Black and Chicano gangs). It's time that people wake up, and understand what's been going on here for decades. The Chicano gang culture is growing at a rate unmatched in the entire US history. I seriously doubt that the gang rape of this young girl was the first violent crime committed by these gang bangers. It's just that they have so much power, they've gotten away with everything up till now. And the girl who called 911 is justifiably fearing for her life now, if anyone knows she was the one who called.

[Eric]

Agree with you Cris what kind of cowards have we become to stand by and watch something like this happen, PATHETIC!!

[Amazed!]

I can't understand what could make so many people decided that this was okay with them. I can't imagine what kind of families they come from, or up bringing up to this point that would make them think this was even ok. I can imagine that they would TEXT FRIENDS AND TAKE PICTURES instead of calling the police.

But the most disturbing part of this was watching the person who represented the school pretend as if this was a separate and "isolated" incident to cover his butt.

I disgusted that this happened I am even more disqusted that it happened to a child I am praying for the world because the offenders themselves were children and thought (even THOUGHT) THIS WAS AN ACT OF MANHOOD.

People instead of just being mad at these kids I think we need to scrap all the things we thought was harmless and take a long good look at what we are learning to except as life.

We need to going back to MAKING SURE our children know that this is unacceptable and force out children to be children again until they are adults. Because they are obviously not getting that freedom comes with a price and our school are becoming the Lord of the Flies.

Sorry to preach but I am not speechless (obviously) I am seeing RED.

This girl will never be the same and God forbid that rage is turned on the world.

[Contrary Mary]

Walt I don't feel responsible in the least! If I'd of been there the ficker would have been eating pavement....I know this because I've had a similar situation.....and I'm a woman. Savages, and some just keeps heralding them in on us! Head to Washington young immigrant and treat them this way and then let's see whom cares about votes. Sickening that yet another youth is ruined for life. No amount of therapy or mind numbing meds will ever wipe this from her memory. My heart goes out to her, and her just a child in a savage world. Yeah, the majority is numb to this stuff until it happens to them, then oh me oh my why me? how? poor me! The problem is only going to grow my friends. Prepare! England started out this way and now look at them.

[layla]

Where was her father in those 2 hours? Did he not show up?

[Tim Riv]

Typical of the Bay area. It's a pretty sick place. If I was here dad neither of the two arrested would make it to trial if they get out on bail.

[Steve]

It is a sad display of our youth, and the fools raising them... I hope they all burn in hell for this. Rape is bad enough, but this??? Just insane.. Those that stood and watched, IMO, are just as guilty..

[c. moore]

This saddens me so deeply. I agree that there should be some sort of law that it's illegal to witness a life-threatening crime in progress and not make an effort to call the police. It's a horrid comment on our culture that we would need such a law. My prayers go out to this girl. I hope she can find the strength and support to heal and perhaps, eventually, even use this hideous incident for some kind of good. Bless her!

[Bill Wippel]

Who is surprised by 15-year-old raped on Richmond CA school campus? We took God out of the schools and evil has gained control. We have no one to blame but ourselves.

[ferenc]

i bet you this was a HATE CRIME, ethnically or genderwise.

[Tiffany]

I read on CNN that the boys (?) watching cannot be tried by the law. This is where I think the schools should step in. Once the police can pinpoint who was watching, there should be a mandatory sex ed class. Rather than normal sex ed where students are taught the mechanics and safe sex, this should be a class specifically on rape. Each boy would be required to bring at least 1 parent/ guardian to the class. Too often, sex is portrayed in our society as a means of self-gratification. What is never taught are the tragic details of rape, both physiological and psychological. Lacerations to different parts should be covered in gory detail. Life-altering physical aspects, and ways in which rape can actually be fatal should be driven home. The psychological ramifications should also be covered... Next, go over the legal ramifications and the psychology of offenders. If there is a rape victim willing to talk to the boys, then pull her in. They need to understand that violence against women is not acceptable. Lastly, send fliers home to the parents of all of the school's students listing the names of the boys involved/ watching. Sad though it is to say, sometimes humiliation is more effective with teenagers than is speaking to their conscience.

As for the race factor, I also find this interesting... a white girl raped by a Hispanic... why is this not half as big of a deal? I am not one to care much about race, but I am seeing a double standard.

[alexa]

Very sad
She was waiting for her dad...
when her dad drove up,wasn't he concerned about where she was and did he go looking for her inside the dance.
sorry I'm a bit confused that this all occurred within two hours.
there were four policeman INSIDE the school. Why weren't two outside and two inside.
Non-Life threatening!!! Her life will never be the same!!!

[Diane Carol Pinkham]

Of course, these kids have no concept that every human life is valuable, they were all born post-Roe v. Wade.

[Kenny]

Just here to do the jobs Americans won't.

[FeminizedWesternMale]

The school is 78% “Hispanic,” 10% black, 8% Asian, and 2% white. Now it all starts to fall together, doesn't it?
Welcome to the new America. By the looks of things today, we have all been whistling past the crimes for a lot longer than 2.5 hours. Note the finger-pointing, implying "I would've done something." Unless you have threatened/damaged/weakened the reigning governmental-plutocratic state, you haven't done jack.
Accept the blame, hypocritical, European Americans; we've done nothing for two generations to retard this descent into savagery. Throwing money and squawking the loudest are the frivolous salves we equate with compassion. Feels good, but the sore festers on... Oops, my child was raped today by swarthy, feral, humanoids.
Better learn to show some real Christian brotherly love, and start kicking some ass - trust me here, judging others is imperative, and egalitarianism is fools gold. Your grandparents knew this... as does anyone who values something greater than themselves (its called a "moral compass").
Alternatively, learn to walk around with a condom in your pocket (or six!), as your time is coming, all of you womyn AND men (sic). The Beast smells our slow death, and is hungry. He is glad to be the junkyard dog for The Man.

[p.f.stone]

1. urban youth,racial dissension,decline of values,kitty syndrome......these factors certainly played their part.
But it still doesn't add up until it all comes together in Richmond.
Do you your test. Next time you hear a report from "the bay area" that leaves you appalled, check the byline.
Ten to One its Richmond.

2. we will find out that females were among the crowd enjoying the brutality, possibly even actively encouraging
the males.

3. that could be acting out of the envy over what this girl
has that others do not.....a father.

[jojo]

agree with Mary...this is more blowback from fascist amerika's "open border" policy....

[Tara]

don't forget that in mexico and much of latin america, the age of consent for a girl is 13. it's a cultural thing. spare us, please.

[Dmerrin]

Seems like the whole "stop snitching" phenomena may have played a role here. The problem may be that in a town like Richmond, there are few voices able to counter that message.

[Eli]

When the liberals are voted out then we will have security, the liberal country is producing non-life valuing people.

[EssJay]

Justice must be swift in a case like this...that girl will have to live with that for the rest of her life and no one defending these jerks can say she 'asked' for it even if she should not have followed him into the alley. NO ONE would ask to be treated like that!

[jon cronauer]

this is the truth---

this is a effect of hispanic/ black GANG CULTURE that has turned Ca. into a depraved, violent, uncivilized, mess..

[kirs]

My neighbor was caught attempting to rape and kill a woman in the hallway by my roommate. I was also called to testify about his character before they decided to cut him a deal! We (roommate, neighbor, and I) are irate! The victim didn't get justice because we have lazy jerks in our public offices.

Caught in the act and in violation of his parole curfew(10 years for assault) he was released on a misdemeanor charge!

Our justice system continues to fail us and the population of street criminals is growing!

[Jonathan (Canadian)]

When I read this I was shock. I will never let mi little sister go to Prom by herself if this could actually happen. Those guys who raped the girl are cowards.

[James]

Where is the outrage? I see a lot of it written here but beyond that, not much else happens because by the end of the week, we will have all moved on to something else. There is a total lack of civility and education based on principles in our society. We need some goddam discpline back in the schools. There has to be mass outrage for anything to happen otherwise, next week it will be on to something else.

[Jim]

PF Stone:
So far, according to police who arrived on the scene (and are performing interviews of the suspects) all of the perps and leering mob were male. It is no more fair to accuse women of involvement without evidence than it is to blame the female victim for what the males brutally did to her. All we know is that only a female had the courage and common decency to call 911 after she heard male bragging.
-------
Macho and sexist culture plays an important role in the mistreatment of females. As a society, we need to let all who would commit such acts know that it is unmanly and utterly unacceptable. Punishments must be harsh enough to get the message across that in this country, females have civil and human rights.

More of us guys need to speak out against this kind of increasing hateful behavior against females. We must fight to take our culture back. I don't blame the women who feel humiliation and rage about this. We need to show that not all of us are like those macho creeps.

[brad]

You people are sad that don't understand what happens in these neighborhoods. The gangs run these hoods and nobody says anything because the gang will find out and pay back. You are all so insulated behind your gated communities and distant burbs that you don't understand just how bad the ghettos are. Guaranteed this was a gang initiation for a boy to find a girl for the older members to rape. Girls sometimes even submit to this type of stuff to join a gang themselves. it is called getting "sexed in" just like when the boys are "beat in" to the gang (I am not saying she volunteered for this). maybe we should look at our inner cities and really assess what needs to be done in our own backyards before we are worried about the rest of the world.

[Avery]

I can't imagine the pain that girl is going through nor the pain her family must be going through. To beat, rape and rob someone, let alone a young girl, is inhumane! What gets me the most is that this whole incident was recorded and was deemed funny!!! They used her like she was their entertainment.

Regardless of how old the rapists are, they should all be sentenced to death. Never again will this girl be able to live a normal life. Those boys are a disgrace to their families and society. I hope one day to read that each one of them was beaten, raped and killed while in prison!!!!!! May they burn in hell!

[Ava H]

This story makes me cringe. People are so sick and twisted, I think everyone who watched, took pictures, laughed or talked about it, as if it was entertaining, should all be charged the same. I pray for that 15 year old girl, this tragic incident will mentally and physically haunt her for the rest of her life. If gang rapes to this extent are happening during high school homecoming dances, consider myself a full believer in home schooling. What happened to this girl could happen to anyone, in any social setting.

[Ava H]

This story makes me cringe. People are so sick and twisted, I think everyone who watched, took pictures, laughed or talked about it, as if it was entertaining, should all be charged the same. I pray for that 15 year old girl, this tragic incident will mentally and physically haunt her for the rest of her life. If gang rapes to this extent are happening during high school homecoming dances, consider myself a full believer in home schooling. What happened to this girl could happen to anyone, in any social setting.

[Stan]

I think this is a racial hate/rape crime. They raped her because she was white, and they are all minorities. They deserve BIG TIME punishment for this...BIG TIME!!!

[WarriorMonk]

SO RAPE IS NOW A AMERICAN SPECTATOR SPORT, HA, ONLY IN AMERICA, RUSSIA WILL ATTACK VERY SOON AND AMERICA WILL BE NO MORE..! ARMAGEDDON IS A FANTASTIC THING, WHAT DESIGN, WHAT CLARITY, WHAT PURPOSE, WHAT ABSOLUTE PERFECTION, WHAT BEAUTY, HEY ITS ALL MY DADDY'S IDEA AND HE HAS THE PATENT ON IT, U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL... THE MARK OF THE BEAST IS ONLY DESIGNED FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE BEAST, FATHER AND HIS CHILDREN, 666...

[Hispanic]

I feel very bad for the girl and that there are sick people out there in this world. But please do not turn this into a race thing. I come from a decent hispanic family, no one in my family close or far have ever been involved with any gangs or anything related to gangs. There are sick people out there in all races and cultures so please do not blame latinos. And the person that asked if they are illegal, what does it matter where they were born or how they got here. What matters is that their parents didn't teach them whats right or wrong and to respect people. Sometimes parents arent to blame, they can have the best parents and be mentally ill. And this is for all races.

[nina]

I am horrified, disgusted.

Sickened

The girl will be traumatized for life.

The rapists are no good for nothing and should get life.

Gang rape is the most cowardly kind of rape

Nina, Denmark

[erinzdad]

Ahh diversity... HAD ENOUGH YET?!?!?!

[disgusted]

Disgusting I hope all of the people involved get caught and charged. For the people who were watching and recording it I hope they get hit with child pornography which is a crime and they have to register as a sex offender for the rest of their lives. As for the people that actually took part in the rape I hope they get what they gave to her three times over in prison.

[M Droessler]

Boys awaiting to call themselves men and men meerely hanging on to their lives by an idea of power; the world has no respect for them. No one respects those who failed to help. What if it was your mother? What if it was your sister? What if it will one day be your daughter? On your deathbed you will have no one but your own hatred for yourself.

[Thomas]

Disgusting story. Feel bad for the girl AND hope that these animals get what's coming to them. Whether they end up in jail or not they are scum pure and simple... ESPECIALLY those who watched and did nothing those are cowards too and they know it. They should publish their names so that we can look them in the eyes and let them know we know it as well.

[jgmurphy]

Ironically sometimes the preponderance of bystanders, especially in the cell phone era, reinforces the notion that one individual is off the hook since each one assumes that someone else will do something. And in the end no one does anything because each person was relying on others.

Moral of this story? If you are a witness to a crime in progress, assume you are the ONLY witness and act accordingly!

[rolando medina]

this action reflect the how bad are our school system,pure bureacracy, they don't teach anything moral either God existance,look what this garbage did, these deserved like our old times justice to be hung up right away they cannot have any right,except to be send to the hell.

[Bubba Sixpack]

Parents are responsible for teaching their kids right from wrong and disciplining them to pick one of those two. It's work. Those parents whose mindset is "my kid win, other kids lose" create punks like these.

Give the kids 5-10 in the big house, the parents 20+.

"If they were to scared they could have at least called the police."
I hate to break it to you, but the onlookers were not scared, they were enjoying the show. They're more participants than witnesses.
You don't remember teenagers.

[Mario]

It's true though, people are scared to come forth. People do get killed by standing up and not having full support from others and the police. Read the earlier article here for an example of that (Jane provided info below). What we need is an organization, like the guardian angels to protect people, since the police are not enough. I'm not talking vigilatism--that's not the answer either. The answer is a united community of people supporting each other, watching out for each other. Let's take control of our streets or else crimes such as these will continue to plague us. Talk is cheap. Don't complain nor criticize, instead let's discuss how to solve the problem of real fear in our citizens and then act on it. If you're not willing to act, you shouldn't have the right to complain.

[keen30]

Simply outrageous and horrible. These animals should all be castrated including the guys that just stood by and did nothing. That poor young lady might never be the same. You people trying to make excuses for the people that did nothing make me sick in my stomach. If this was my little girl I honestly don't know what I would do, I would go nuts on these guys.

[Joy_lynne]

"more than a dozen witnesses saw the assault but failed to call police, authorities said today."

This reminds me of a movie (Time Machine) where the future depicts people devoid of emotion and empathy. Someone falls into a river, cannot swim and the people just watch the person get carried away to drown.

What on earth does this say about these people. I could NEVER sit by and see someone suffer like this. These numerous witnesses should be held accountable for their lack of action. How can they possibly live with themselves. OMG! If that were my daughter I would be absolutely devastated at the lack of compassion shown to her.

There is something very wrong with the thinking here. Makes me wonder what road our country is traveling down where self determination has been lost and where we all expect someone else to do the right thing.

This is disturbing on so many levels.

[ferenc]

been there done that, you are right. AMERIKAn politicians are scared sh..less of people of COLOR and will do nothing and DENY their HATE CRIMES. i am european and as a teen grew up in cleveland and went to 99% black john hay hs in 1960-62. i learned to fight daily to defent myself. in vn there was legal payback when they were trying to frag us. what a country. now i live in az and mr GLOCK protects me, too bad about cal gun control.

[Stop Welfare Rats NOW!]

Let's profile: (Going out on a limb to suggest a profile)

Were they conceived by unwed teenage mothers?
If so, was that mother allowed to keep the child and use taxpayer dollars to support them as welfare rats?

Color doesn't matter much to me - they are colorless, mindless animals.

Let's do something about what it is we do with children who are not born into any situation where the parent(s) are unable to take proper care of their needs on their own or with family support so that they are NOT welfare rats. This social problem is a disgrace and leads to urban animal garbage.

[brent groenhuizen]

i hope the people that did this rot it hell. we dont need losers like this. they do nothin for us. not only did they ruin an inocent girls life, we will have to pay for them forever in prison. were they will continue to kill and rape eachother. discusting individuals. parents need to teach there kids better skills. being a gangster is a horrible way to live. get a job and do something for yourself! Quit ruining other peoples lives!!!

[diane]

This is what the world has come to. Bad behavior is glorified and condoned on TV every day. We need a dramatic turn around.

[Amanda]

My mum told me this on the way home, though she exaggerated and under-exaggerated some details... like how many raped the girl, and how many nonaction witnesses there were...

Either way, it's appalling. The girl could've been killed, and even not- if you see a girl THAT young doing sexual acts is enough reason to report and DO SOMETHING... someone is taking advantage even if it's consensual. Even more reason is that it was obviously rape, there was TONS of guys and physical harm being done. All publicly.

Poor girl. No matter the reason they did that to her (if they try to go on about her drinking or whatnot- who cares? That doesn't give them the justification of rape or beating a fifteen year old girl), I hope every single one of those guys burn. Literally- jail isn't as harsh to these kinds of crimes as it should be. As for those people who did nothing at all but just stare or walk away- pray for mercy... as you're just as bad.

[Anneta]

This crime just breaks my heart! I am truly frightened for the youth in our nation today... the LACK of maturity, moral values, godly standards, responsibility and leadership is appalling. HOW have our young people ended up like this? Christian youth are now a MINORITY. Our great nation is on a moral decline, and our youth are not being groomed for success and leadership... instead they're congregating in some back alley, getting their thrills out of abusing helpless victims!
PARENTS: Order this book: "Grooming The Next Generation for Success" by Dani Johnson! Google it - there is a book, AND a home study program! Get both! I did! The videos and audios in the home study program are worth their weight in GOLD! I also recommend you attend Dani Johnson's seminars! Dani will equip you with the skills & wisdom to groom your children for success. We MUST turn this epidemic around before it's too late!

[Peter & Elaine]

This deeply saddens and griefs us so much.We feel so bad for this poor young girl. These animals who viciously raped her, will face thier just punishment. They took her innocence and her safety away. This is deplorable and so heinous. She was so looking forward to high school homecoming dance and these guys savagely attacked her. She faced total humiliation at their hands, and to make it worse, others stood by to watch it. Gang rape deserves the ultimate punishment. I hope and pray she will someday recover from this brutal assault.

[Jordan]

What if instead of condemning all latinos, or gang members, we take this as a wake up call. What if society pushed the public offices to take notice and reform the school system so school could be a safe place for students, so they learn about rape and things liket his, and how to treat people? What if instead of having big public high schools where most minority students who come from underfunded schools are already out of the running to be in decent classes, we teach them and treat them like they are worth something. There is nothing okay about what happened that night, rape is wrong. But calling them animals wont' change anything; giving students oppertunities besides gangs to turn to will. Telling them that they can graduate, and they can succeed in school and giving equal oppertunities to do so, and setting up a system that doesn't let them fall through the cracks will. Having programs, or a connections class, for the entire school, where students learn life skills , things about rape, sexual abuse, sexuality, sex ed, serious issues, substance abuse, gangs- and get to understand that they can get help rather than straight condemning them is how they change. I don't know anyone who would do what they did, but I do know plenty who are associated with gangs or who have substance abuse issues - and its not because they are bad people- its because they are so wrapped up in a culture and society that gives nowhere to go but down. A society that tells them they are worthless, and the school system places them in bad classes and doesn't care when they drop out, and they believe they aren't teaching, so they give up. Reform the school systems, and make them the communities and safe places those kids don't have; the kids on the streets, the kids struggling to figure out right from wrong, the kids who believe all they can do is fail; and that's where c hange comes from. the root of the problem.

I got to a charter school- where 56 percent of my sopomore grade is latino- and we have a 99% graduation rate, of 400 students, and everyone goes to college- we are a college prep, and they support and make it a community. All students take APs in senior year, and they take 2 APs as juniors- all the same kids who would be dropping out at the district larger schools, are passing and growing and contributing. My point is, charter schools like ours- make it possible, the big public school system doesn't work, they let too many fall through the cracks, too many just give up because they have nothing else.

school is a safe place- i have plenty of friends who are good people, but who a year ago, if they had seen me on street at night before they knew me at our school, maybe they would have jumped me or their friends would have, because i'm white. Because they've never gotten to experience diverstity because they've been held back. Because at big public schools many of the white kids in AS AP classes- are not bad people, but ignorant and look down on the minorities- and it's a mutual divide. The bridges should be crossed.

I'm not saying what happens was right in any way- just that society should put their energy into reform and dealing with the root of these issues, rather than patting themselves on the back for recognising the bad guys. Society as a whole is responsible for taking care of it's people, of taking responsibility when cleary communities are broken- and we've failed at that. It takes something from everyone, but we need to try. It's not black and white- most of the people in gangs, in this enviroment aren't all bad because they are i n a gang- they are misguided, and desperate. They make bad choices, there's a difference.

That gang culture accepts what happened is the saddest thing- that no one did anything- because the individuals aren't the only ones doing it, its not isolate at all- they are following a path that someone set up for them, that some gang started- so many things have gone wrong, and there's multiple ways to fix them.