Three Calabasas middle school students arrested in 'ginger attacks'

Three boys have been arrested in connection with the so-called "ginger attacks," instigated by a Facebook message, in which at least seven red-haired children were beaten up at a Calabasas middle school, a sheriff's spokesman said this morning.

Two 12-year-old students at A.E. Wright Middle School were arrested on suspicion of battery on school property, and a 13-year-old boy was accused of threatening to inflict injury "by means of electronic communication."

"The charge against the 13-year-old male is commonly referred to as cyber-bullying, something that is occurring way too much," said Steve Whitmore, spokesman for the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.

The children were booked Wednesday before being released to the custody of their parents. No court date has been set for their initial appearance at Sylmar Juvenile Hall.

Sheriff’s detectives are continuing to investigate the assaults and have identified eight boys at the school as subjects of the investigation. Authorities believe the attacks were spurred by a Facebook message about “Kick a Ginger Day," inspired by the television show "South Park."

Officials at the school are expected to announce the findings of their own inquiry later today.

Students returning to campus from Thanksgiving break will be attending a “special assembly” this morning on “decision making, the power of words, the importance of kindness, and social responsibility,” the school’s principal wrote Sunday in a message to parents posted on the school's website.

The most serious assault left a 12-year-old boy with cuts and bruises. Other children were pushed, shoved and intimidated, authorities said. Many of the victims came forward after the bizarre attacks received media coverage.

In a satirical 2005 episode of “South Park,” one of the characters claimed that people with red hair, light skin and freckles have no souls and suffer from a disease called "Gingervitis."

-- Victoria Kim, Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton 

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Comments

[Snorlax]

Throw the book at 'em.

ZERO TOLERANCE for bullying in our public schools.

Arrest 'em, convict 'em, put 'em in juvie.

And expell 'em for the rest of the school year.

[wasko]

Hello? When are they going to sue the producers of southpark? Which I might add is the worst garbage I have ever had the dipleasure to have witnessed, once!

[Nina]

I think Southpark owes an apology to all people affected by their sick sense of humor.

[donalds]

Childhood bullies grow up to be Adult bullies. Bullying is a crime of stalking. 'To intimidate, harass or make you fear for your saftey'. They should be charged with a stalking crime too.

[bob]

why are they not being charged with a federal hate crime?
if the victims were of color they certainly would.

[carol phillips]

Im seeing this more often this is almost an attack on a race , red colored hair mainly boys, are we to scared to say its raceism, come on they singled out red heads - thats
crazy ..... this is a hate crime......

[carol phillips]

im surprised this is not called a hate crime ,singled out
red heads, this is racism. are we blind or what and we need to speak out , it needs attention , these kids are getting
this haterd from thier parents this is clear to me ,they need parent and child to go to therepy..mandatory....

[mom of a red-head]

and they aren't calling it a hate crime??? We are sending a message that it's ok to do this as long as it's only cuts and bruises. It's ok to pick on someone because of their hair color. Can you imagine if it was "kick a brunette day"? What about "kick an afro day"? "kick a dumb blonde'? They'd be in court in a second. If this had happened to my son or even something similar at my kids' schools, I'd be going crazy!!! Think about it...

[kevin]

this could only happen in calabasas. all the rich xanax-abusing mothers need SOMETHING to fight against

those mothers blow everything out of proportion. they are delusional

[mari]

In Claremont, CA there was an instance of a parent who went on facebook and urged kids at the local middle school to try to drive another kid out of the school. Facebook, when notified, took the page down. The Claremont Police basically said they couldn't do anything. Perhaps cyberbullying must result in injury before law enforcement will take action?

[Tom, Long Beach, California]

dear bob, read the story....a federal hate crime for 12 year olds....good luck prosecuting that one....their parents are the ones who should be punished for raising these little hellions....

[Joe Poe]

I agree with the other posters -- what about "Kick a Mocha-Mix" day? -- it would carefully not target a race pe se, but would clearly be a hate crime. Ventura County -- your wimpiness is in evidence! Man up!

[Debbie]

Parental Failure! Where the heck were the parents?? Children don't grow up thinking this way and just one show would not cause a child to do this. My guess is these children watched tons of inappropriate televison/YouTube videos before they acted on this. Children should be charged and so should the the parents for contributing to the deliquency of a minor.

[mommyof126]

I agree with the other comments these children should be charged with with a hate crime.The parent should also investigated as well. In my opinion no child under the age 16 should be watching South Park anyway!! we as parents NEED to monitor what our children watch on television or do on the internet. Unfortunaly we live in a crazy and scary world especially for tweens and children.

[ferenc]

hate crimes only apply to crimes commited against blacks or jews by whites. all other crimes are plain crimes that carry lesser penalties.i agree that this was a hate crime, but to me, all crimes are hate crimes no matter what

[nagaisu]

How can this be a hate crime when the victims have no souls?

[P Olson]

This is a hate crime and these children should be dealt with to the full extent of the law. The school needs to take responsibilty as well since they were on school property. These parents are stupid--they know when their own child is a bully. Parents wake up and get more involved with your children. You should have know better also!Children should be safe in school!

[Pam]

Good for the police! Now those bratty "Calabasholes" will get what's coming to them. These kids are as clueless as their Vicodin-happy parents. They have money and believe they can do no wrong. Gingers Unite!

[Duncan Scrymgeour]

Attacks on red heads a hate crime? First, these are children, both the attackers as well as the victims, so "hate crime" is a bit severe, but it is also inaccurate for two reason. First, red heads are not a legally-defined and protected class and so are, therefore, not specifically protected by hate crime legislation. But more to the point, a hate crime is just that, a crime motivated by a hatred for a specific group of people, whether the defining characteristic is race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. So to the poster who theorized that were the victims to be people of color, it would be called a "hate crime," that begs the question since people of color are among those groups specifically outlined in hate crime legislation. (By the way, should the children have been victimized by non-whites because they were white and not simply red-haired, it would be a federally-defined hate crime, a fact often overlooked by white critics.)

Every effort should be made to punish the bullies involved in what was a shockingly arbitrary and senseless act of violence against innocents. However, it precisely because it was arbitrary and senseless that it was not a hate crime.

We should not overuse federal protections lest their power be diminished through over application. Should, for some reason, people with red hair become the target of increased victimization, then it is our responsibility as citizens to include them in hate crime legislation, not attempt to use current legislation to enhance the punishment of a small group of people who do not otherwise represent a maligned, oppressed or otherwise victimized class of people.

[guy eichberg]

I went to A E Wright in the 90's. It was so safe then. The campus was open and people could go in and out without checking in (including students). I was the treasurer and president of my student class. What happened? Now the campus has gates and children are beating each other up for the color of their hair?

Las Virgines School District is going to hell in a hand basket like the Los Angeles School District already has.

[Frank White]

Interesting that they chose redheads, who are considered Caucasian...and I am sure the suspects are also Caucasian..so how is this a race issue? It simply picking on folks who appear different..its been going on for millenia
Hmmm...I guess they chose them due to the fact that other ethnic groups are virtually non-existent in Calabasas schools?

Makes ya wonder what would happen if there were some diversity up there?

I bet I know the answer.

[me]

Sadly their parents will slap their hands and take them shopping. Makes you wonder what is wrong with people. My 10 year old son knows this behavior is completely wrong. Not only does he know it's wrong, he can't stand seeing other kids get bullied or hurt. The funny thing is, he is big for his age and can take many of the kids his age and older, but never would because he has been raised better. He would only use his hands in self defense... Or in cases like this when he saw little punks like these messing with kids who did nothing to deserve. Then of course he has my full permission to beat the mess out of them!

[Paul]

You'd of thought the creators of South Park would've learned a thing or two about bullies and what they do....considering they are from Littleton, Colorado....the place that brought us Colombine and all it's joy. Guess not. I hope they are justifiably named in the lawsuits that will come from this.

[paranah]

If the victims were targeted because they were black or gay, that would be a hate crime. But the targeted victims are most likely caucasion with red hair so it's sorry kid, you were born with the wrong color hair.
Personaly I don't agree with the hare crime laws. If you attack someone regardless of race, color, sexual orientation or religious belief it's not because you love them. It's a hate crime and all should be prosecuted to the same degree.

[Daniel]

First, The parents of those poor kids who committed assault and the poor soulless victims will come out against the show (it should be enough to say that the show carries a warning before each episode that it is not intended for children).

Second, Why are parents letting their kids watch this show. Personally, I love the show, but I do not let my 9 year old twins watch it. If I did, I would watch it with them and talk to them about it.

Third, Hate crime? Sure... Why not. Except I do not believe the students were a target of hate, just a target of stupidity.