School officials in South Florida are investigating a case involving a seventh-grader who became unconscious after being beaten severely by multiple students.
However, the students’ mother and anti-bullying activists claim the school’s district isn’t doing enough.
The incident took place at Gulfstream Academy on Friday, April 1, when several students jumped the girl. Cellphone video shows the girl’s hair being pulled and then being assaulted on the ground.
The mother of the girl, Christina Neptune, said she is traumatized every time she watches the video. She said her daughter suffered an ankle injury and facial swelling and is suffering headaches. She claims that both of her children are being threatened because her son attempted to assist his sister. “My kids are kind of scared; they don’t want to return to this school,” she said.
Gulfstream Academy has been dubbed a “gladiator school,” said Eric Pettus, an anti-bullying advocate. Pettus, along with other anti-bullying activists and Neptune, met with the school’s principal on Wednesday to discuss a solution. Unfortunately, the principal was unavailable.
Neptune said, “Every time I try to find answers, it’s like it’s a dead end.”
Activist Crystal Foster wants to hold the school principal accountable for the incident.
“We want Ms. Tarshé Freeman, the principal of Gulfstream Academy . . . we want her removed, and we will fight until we get her removed,” Foster said.
According to a statement released by Broward County Public Schools, “School staff immediately responded and intervened. Emergency responders evaluated one student at the school. No students were transported. The students responsible for the altercation received appropriate school disciplinary consequences in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct.”
Additionally, Neptune said she wants the students responsible for the video to be punished since sharing the clip is only harming her two children.
