Investigators work to identify redheaded students’ assailants in Calabasas

L.A. County sheriff's investigators are meeting with officials at a Calabasas middle school today to try to identify the students who injured at least three classmates after a Facebook message urged them to attack redheads.

The victims suffered minor injuries Friday when they were kicked and hit by a dozen classmates at A.E. Wright Middle School in assaults that may have been inspired by an episode of the television show "South Park," according to investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Detectives believe the attacks may have been motivated by a Facebook message telling them Friday was "Kick a Ginger Day." A 2005 episode of the animated comedy "South Park" focused on prejudice against "gingers," a label given to people with red hair, freckles and fair skin.

"We know the why, we know the how, we just need to find out who is involved," said Lt. John Benedict of the Sheriff's Department's Lost Hills Station.

Officials are investigating the incidents as possible assaults with a deadly weapon but do not consider the attacks to be hate crimes. No arrests have been made.

--Tony Barboza

Comments

[clayton]

I go to A C Stelle(a sister school of A E Wright) and this was not a hate crime! most middle schoolers shoudnt watch south park, do to the fact that they are highly suggestible. Honestly, i watch the show, and i think its funny, you just have to know that what happens in certain shows should not be talked about in schools. Im trying not to sound egotistical, but a lot of other kids do not know when enough is enough. The "ginger" that had the worst injuries had a boroken arm, a dislocated shoulder, and facial bruises. The warning befor southpark comes on CLEARLY says that it is a very mature show, and actualy says that it should be view by no one. Calabasas is a wealthy community were most parents have full time jobs(except the stay at home moms that spend their days shopping at expensive stores. But even if you work, you have to control your children to atleast some degree!!!!!!!!!!!.

[clayton]

I go to A C Stelle(a sister school of A E Wright) and this was not a hate crime! most middle schoolers shoudnt watch south park, do to the fact that they are highly suggestible. Honestly, i watch the show, and i think its funny, you just have to know that what happens in certain shows should not be talked about in schools. Im trying not to sound egotistical, but a lot of other kids do not know when enough is enough. The "ginger" that had the worst injuries had a boroken arm, a dislocated shoulder, and facial bruises. The warning befor southpark comes on CLEARLY says that it is a very mature show, and actualy says that it should be view by no one. Calabasas is a wealthy community were most parents have full time jobs(except the stay at home moms that spend their days shopping at expensive stores. But even if you work, you have to control your children to atleast some degree!!!!!!!!!!!.

[Neill]

You people are all so silly. Yes it terrible that those kids were picked on for being "ginger;" however the whole idea of a "ginger" comes from a satirical cartoon making fun of the concept of race. Those of you who are crying out for this to be a "hate crime" are only perpetuate the human construct of race. Please 1) watch the episode, 2) remember these are only children, and 3) take your anger out on the parents, because... THEY ARE CHILDREN! A child in middle school (or some of these readers) would understand the satirical undertone of this social commentary.

Am I defending their behavior? Should we condone kicking "gingers?"Should we allow children to watch South Park? Should we become upset over a made up "race" of these so called "gingers?" The answer to anyone of these questions in NO! However should we eat babies as Jonathan Swift suggested in "A Modest Proposal;" no, because that is the purpose of satire. A child wouldn't understand the sarcasm.

People get riled up over the slightest things! Slap them on the wrist and chalk it up to kids being kids. Enough with this politically correct bunk. This article and the responses it generated only validates yet another way we segregate ourselves, and blames immature juveniles for their ignorance.

[Iain]

This is not a hate crime, its called bullying. People seem to forget how different things are when you are a child, picking on someone else is normal, wether it be weight, appearance, style, friends, anything you can think of really. It happens in every school in every city in every country of the world.
Even beyond that, in your late teens and early adulthood the same thing happens. I remember making fun of one of my ginger friends, just because. I probably still do it sometimes, its all jokes. People should just take less offence to insults and learn how to raise their kids properly, instead of blaming TV.

[Iain]

This is not a hate crime, its called bullying. People seem to forget how different things are when you are a child, picking on someone else is normal, wether it be weight, appearance, style, friends, anything you can think of really. It happens in every school in every city in every country of the world.
Even beyond that, in your late teens and early adulthood the same thing happens. I remember making fun of one of my ginger friends, just because. I probably still do it sometimes, its all jokes. People should just take less offence to insults and learn how to raise their kids properly, instead of blaming TV.

[Tim]

South Park is an awesome show, but it isn't suitable for children of this age. Its easy for the School and the Parents to Blame it on South Park but they ought to take a look in the mirror and ask themselves why they allow their children to watch these shows in the first place, especially if they feel so strongly against it. Every wrong doing that could have ever possibly happened has probably been covered by South Park, in fact im surprised whenever a child called Kenny dies people dont blame them... I have seen every single episode of south park to date anywhere from one to over twenty times, and im able to function in everyday life without wanting to grind up my neighbours into chilli and feed it to their kids. And anyway it doesnt matter cause gingers dont have souls :p

[Cecelia Rios]

Anyone here ever seen "Lord of the Flies?" It sure reminds me of these little disaffected punks who are ganging up on other kids. What the hell is wrong with the parents is something I would be asking and that is what is wrong with the kids. No respect for others? Bad attitudes? Do they feel someone "owes" them just for general principles? I hope the parents suffer more shame than even them little savages because obviously no one has taught them to be kind or charitable because if you don't teach children this, they turn out to be cruel and merciless. Check out "Lord of the Flies" to see what kind of kids these are. Punks.