'Ginger attacks' at Calabasas school linked to cyber-bullying

What began as an effort by the animated TV show "South Park" to lampoon prejudice found a life of its own at a Calabasas middle school after a Facebook page inspired some students to attack redheaded 7th- and 8th-graders, officials said today.

Three boys have been booked for various crimes connected with the "ginger bashing" carried out Nov. 20 at A.E. Wright Middle School.  The Facebook page had dubbed it "National Kick a Ginger Day."

Four girls and three boys were the victims of physical or verbal abuse because of their red hair, freckles and pale complexions. Detectives are still trying to determine how long each attack lasted, but one may have been up to a half-hour, officials said.

Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. John Benedict said two 12-year-old boys were detained and booked on charges of "battery on school property because of the cumulative incidents through the day."

"This was not one incident but a number of incidents throughout the day," Benedict said.

A 13-year-old boy was booked for cyber-bullying or making a threat via electronic communication.

"He made the threat on an invite on Facebook," Benedict said.

Investigators said the three boys face potential charges and have been released to their parents. The Facebook page was not started by a Calabasas student, officials said.

Sheriff's investigators began questioning students at the school after a 7th-grader was kicked and punched on campus by a large group of boys and had to be treated for bruises and bloody injuries by the school nurse, who alerted the principal.

That same afternoon, sheriff's detectives were contacted by the parents of another 7th-grader, a 12-year-old redhead. They told investigators their son had been accosted twice by groups of 7th- and 8th-graders before first period.

Sheriff's officials interviewed 25 students and say at least eight played some role in the bullying of redheads. But they added that most of the activity did not involve physical violence and did not amount to crime.

The Facebook website that inspired the incidents seemed to draw on a "South Park" episode in which the Cartman character describes people with red hair, freckles and pale complexions as "evil" and "soulless."

Dozens of children left messages on the Facebook page claiming to have carried out attacks on "National Kick a Ginger Day," according to sheriff's investigators.

-- Richard Winton

Comments

[Kate]

I cant believe the hide of some kids these days. Did they come from disfunctional families, because I know any child brought up in a well respected loving and nurturing family, they shouldnt carry on like that. I blame most parents these days for their childs behaviours. There is a thing called parenting, and if you dont parent your children they will turn out like these sick little puppies. They are just Lucky it wasnt in my home town in Australia. Come on parents, take some responsibility. Teach your kids right from wrong.

[Kevin]

I hope this goes as a hate crime and the posters of those "admitted" attacks are punished under the anti-terrorism laws.

[Kevin]

I hope this goes as a hate crime and the posters of those "admitted" attacks are punished under the anti-terrorism laws.

[Jayden Norris]

The defendants should be tried for hate crimes. These attacks fit the definition of a hate crime in that they are organized violence against a minority group.

[anonymous from nyc]

Who listens to what Cartman says anyways? What dumb middle school kids.

[Lee Hauser]

Every child should be sent to jail. There should be consequences and these bullies should have their records published and follow them the rest of their lives.

[J]

What the heck, why are the blaming this on a cartoon that came out 4 years ago! Blame the kids who did it, and their sorry excuses for parents.

[Tara]

Has the ACLU or any other 'civil rights' organization commented on this?

[Katie]

I am mortified to think that bullying could go this far in schools. I have seen the South Park episode and do not see how that can give anyone the right to bully these children based upon what they saw on a tv show! Being a red head I know these remarks all too well but they never go past the common "ginger" or "fire" but to think that kids were beaten up because of their hair color is sickening.

[Debbie]

My son was treated very poorly the entire time we lived in the Thousand Oaks area because of his red hair. They even referred to his private parts as "fire" for heavens sake. The kids today are mean and their parents are not paying attention!

I have to agree it is a hate crime. The people that hit and kicked redheads should be punished with work....picking up garbage etc. Hopefully they will not just give a slap on their hands, they need to understand how harmful their treatment is to others.

Makes me sick.

[ebob]

I am tired of this kind of treatment. Every year a new thing. Fire down there and so on. Let me just say this is unnervating!

[Rick]

This is what you get when you don't get involved in what your child is watching on tv or doing on the internet. I agree, these appear to be hate crimes and not simple bullying. If they are convicted of this, make them paint over graffitti or pick up trash.

[charlie]

Actually the term 'ginger' and picking on red heads is a British thing that far predates the South Park episode.

[Frank]

Southpark is a show for adults--immature adults, like me. It's not for stupid, silly, impressionable youth. These kinds of things happen when parents don't give a rats ass what their kids watch. They figure, "It's just a cartoon. How bad could it be?" These days, very bad. That's why I watch these shows. I have the ability to watch them, laugh, then not be inspired to do wrong to others. Parents, if you're not going to wear a condom, have the decency to pay attention to what your kids watch on T.V.. Remember, even though you don't want to believe it, your kids are at least as stupid as you were.