More youngsters believed targeted in assaults on redheads

As many as four youngsters were targeted in Calabasas by at least a dozen middle-school students after a Facebook group urged them to beat up redheads, authorities said.

The first reported incident occurred Friday morning when a 12-year-old boy was kicked and hit in two incidents on the campus of A.E. Wright Middle School by a dozen of his classmates, Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigators said.

Further investigation led detectives to confirm a second attack in the city, and they now believed there may be two more victims, said Steve Whitmore, a department spokesman.

The students who participated in the attack may have been motivated by a Facebook message telling them that Friday was "Kick a Ginger Day," according to Lt. Richard Erickson. "Ginger" is a label given to people with red hair, freckles and fair skin.

Whitmore confirmed that all four victims in the investigation have red hair.

The Facebook message may have been inspired by an episode of the television show "South Park." An episode in 2005 focused on prejudice against "gingers" after one of the characters said people with red hair, light skin and freckles have no souls and suffered from a disease called "Gingervitis."

Investigators have not made any arrests and don't consider the attacks to be hate crimes.

The first victim sought help Friday from a school nurse, who contacted the principal. Sheriff's officials arrived on campus shortly afterward.

Investigators say the boy was accosted by seventh- and then eighth-graders who kicked and hit him. Detectives are investigating the incident as a possible assault with a deadly weapon.

The boy's injuries were not severe. His name was not released because he is a juvenile.

Facebook spokesman Barry Schnitt said the network relies on its more than 300 million users to report problems with groups or events. Staff members then follow up to see if groups should be removed or reported to law enforcement, he said.

Schnitt said he had not been made aware of this specific message or group.

"Inciting violence against any individual or group is against what we stand for and our policies," Schnitt said.

--Richard Winton

Comments

[Anthony]

Gingers are yummy!!!

[J Hill]

This is terrible! The kids who participated in violence and race discrimination against the 12 year old boy and the other youngsters at this school need to learn the word RESPECT. Do you think these kids will take responsibility for what they did to these youngsters? My heart goes out to the kids and their families who have been hurt by this terrible act of violence.

[another redhead weighs in]

I read the earlier story regarding one boy being targeted. Now I see that as many as four students were. It seems they were targeted solely based upon their hair color. So in that sense, it is a hate crime, even if it doesn't meet the "legal" definition of one. I hope the perpetrators are charged with hate crimes.

[Adam Vant]

Oh please what a big ado over nothing. This is like when kids put a "Kick Me" sign on someone's back. Silly kids' practical joke. I guess it was a slow news day.

[benny]

i would consider this a hate crime....specially targeting a person based on just their looks!

[concerned sister]

My sister is a red head. Although she is a popular student at her high school, serving as captain of sports teams and making prom court, she was targeted on 'Kick a Ginger Day.' She claimed to be hit 5 times during this day, and claimed to be called various obscenities related to red heads. These comments ranged from 'ginger' to 'fire crotch' and many more which I do not wish to repeat. She has said to have always been a mark because of her hair color, however, now the bullying has increased. As red heads only make up about 2% of the world's population, should we find a way to protect this minority more? When do these words and actions qualify as hate speech and hate crimes?

[Concerned]

Parents have to raise their standards first!

When will TV programs like the Simpsons and South Park take responsibility for their negative influence on the young? They are two of the more vulgar programs now being shown on TV aimed at young people. When will the American public raise their personal standards for what it takes to entertain them. Something is terribly missing in our culture when entertainment sinks to the lowest common denominator: vulgarity, obscenity, porn and violence. When will we go back to seeking high aspirations and refinement; manners and consideration for others? The true tragedy is that many young people today, and their parents, don't know the difference.
We are lost if we lose our civility and caring for others.

[Chuck]

We used to have the same problem along time ago. Only it was against Blacks. Are we going backwards now??

[Hawaii nei]

In Hawaii we used to have "Hang a Haole" day - (last day of school) and "Slap a Jap" day (Dec 7th). It was fairly universal for years.

[Licia]

Shame on anyone who thinks this is not serious. This is how it begins. When these bullies are not taught a lesson, chances are they grow up to be violent racists. These attacks were directed to a specific group of people. Thank you L.A. Times for bringing to everyone's attention. I'm certain that it was not a slow news day.

[M SAX]

Take it down. Arrest the kids and hold their parents accountable.
What if the South Park episode suggested something more violent?

[Zach]

I've commented on this one already, but it really sounds to me like the people who most oppose hate crime laws want to send us down the slippery slope with this one. Were these kids motivated by a real hatred of Gingers, or a stupid facebook posting? Do we really want to start slapping every bully that utters a derogetory slur with a hate crime? I hate bullying as much as anyone who was bullied, but while I'd like to see stronger punishments, that seems pretty excessive when you're talking about middle-schoolers.

[ginger]

Hate crime pure and simple! But hey, we redheads have been persecuted throughout history, it's tough being at the top!
Most of you inferiors are ok with it, you rely on strength in numbers to balance the scales. But we know better...;)

[Jeff]

I chalk this one up to lax parenting...the first line of responsibilty falls to parents...put down the latte and communicate with your children people! If your child is a minor and has a facebook account you should monitor their activity. Own the solution first before it becomes a problem.

Schools cannot accept responsibilty entirely for this type of unacceptable behaviour. It starts with the parents first. Always.

[Mom of a Redhead]

As a mom of two redheads, I cried when I heard about this. This is definitely a hate crime.

[Red]

A big ado over nothing? This is NOT nothing. This is a hate crime specifically targeted at those with red hair. I am a redhead and I take major offense at this. To say that these victims were not seriously injured is a half-truth. They are injured in mind and spirit. All through elementary and jr. high, I was treated differently because of my red hair, after high school, my hair color was revered. I don't want these kids to have to wait that long for people to accept them. The kids who participated in the beating should be suspended immediately; and then be made to give a public apology to those kids they victimized.

[jenna]

This is unacceptable,it' considered harassment and should not be taken lightly. This is considered a form of bullying.
Jenna

[Hmmmm]

Just think "Columbine".

[Dee]

Man up, Lt. Erickson! A hate crime is a hate crime. If the victim had been dark skinned with kinky hair, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A HATE CRIME!!! South Park is not responsible....just irresponsible. The entire event is chilling, and sad. Parents...what are you teaching your children?

[Patrice Mc]

This should be look upon as a hate crime and the youngsters involved should be dealt with harshly. By very definition of the event, this qualifies as a hate crime. Now I am neither a redhead nor of the Caucasian persuasion, but this event could have easily affected ANY combination of skin, hair or eyes color!

[Scott]

To "Concerned"

You're blaming the CARTOON for this? Why don't you place the blame solely where it belongs? At the feet of the parents.

This is pisspoor, shoddy parenting that doesn't teach the kids right from wrong, fantasy from reality. You don't think kids should watch a show? Don't let them. Or teach them why it's funny, but WRONG.

Censoring the shows isn't the answer. That's clearly a scapegoat, and a bad one. Blame the parents who need to teach their kids what's going on in the world instead of using the television as a teacher/babysitter and never talking to their kids.

[Lena]

Congress defines a hate crime as "criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, ethnic origin or sexual orientation."

The crime: assault
The targets: Redheads/Redheads with freckles

The crime was motivated by race. Therefore it is a hate crime.

[TruthTeller]

The irony is that the South Park episode is a commentary AGAINST this kind of prejudice & superficial bias.

South Park is a show for Adults ONLY.

Any adult that would allow a child to watch South Park is guilty of neglect at best.

I am beginning to have doubts about a society that allows parents to put TVs in their childrens rooms, that allows parents to buy their 16 year old new driver children souped up, high horsepower vehicles, but will prosecute other parents that discipline their children with just about any form of corporal punishment.

Did the children of the 1930s, 40s, & 50s really turn out so badly???

[Belinda Gomez]

A 2005 episode of South Park? Why does the LAT insist on repeating this nonsense?

[FineTunes]

Mission Statement of A. E. Wright Middle School---"We at A.E. Wright are dedicated to the goal of academic excellence as well as the personal and social development of all our students. Academic integrity is fostered in a climate which respects the unique needs of the adolescent. Having a positive self-image, respecting the rights of others, communicating effectively, thinking critically, being able to meet challenges, and accepting responsibility are essential to the personal and social development of a well-rounded individual. We believe achieving these goals is the mission of A.E. Wright." I think it is time for the school, parents, students and community to reflect on this and take the appropriate action.

Some commenters maintain that this is not a hate crime, while it may not meet the legal requirements, it is morally repugnant any time a mob picks on a class of people based some physical attribute. The term "ginger" was not used as a term of endearment--look it up on the web. The kids can and should be charged with assault and battery which is a felony. I think that the racial element of a hate crime could be met by the argument that people with natural red hair occurs in certain racial groups.