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#52 Are Our Kids Safe? (Bullies, Buses & Beatdowns)

Posted by NWSO • September 16, 2009 • Printer-friendly

Not to do another back-to-back post about today’s youth, but I’m disgusted. Earlier today I was on GlobalGrind.com and came across a disturbing video clip labeled “A Racist Brawl on the School Bus” that has since been taken down.

For those that missed it, the school bus surveillance footage was of a 17-year-old Belleville West High School student in Illinois getting attacked two separate classmates while other kids laughed and cheered on. The victim was a teen (that happened to be White) and the aggressors just happened to be Black.

Based on the minute-and-a-half long clip, it’s not clear whether or not the assault (I can’t even call it a fight because the boy didn’t even have a chance to swing back) was racially motivated but it appears to have started over a seat.

The White student was trying to find a seat on the bus and finally took an empty space next to his first attacker, who didn’t seem too pleased by that. After a few words were exchanged, the aggressor pushed the other kid and then began pummeling him in the face.

Once things settle down, the tape jumps a few minutes ahead to a completely different student badgering the White kid once again. Before you know it, the ostracized student is getting his face pounded once again. To his credit, though, he got at least one good punch in before other kids stopped the second incident from escalating any further.

According to news reports, the two aggressors were suspended and later arrested. Official charges were not yet announced. Although the school’s superintendent, Greg Moats, says there have never been any racial problems before, police feel this may be the exception. "In my estimation, it's racially motivated," says Capt. Don Sax of the Belleville Police Department. "There was absolutely no justification for the beating either time."

I wish y’all could see the footage for yourselves, but it really appeared to be an unprovoked attack. The kid only wanted a seat on the way to school instead two separate people punched him in the face repeatedly for sitting down where there was room. Regardless of race, that’s just wrong.

These kids are straight bullies. In fact, the second one even clapped after his volley of blows against someone that wasn’t even fighting back. Way to go tough guy. I know kids can be cruel but based on what I saw this was excessive. The other kids on the bus didn’t even do anything except laugh.

It’s a damn shame. I’m 32 with no kids, and the fact that other folks have unruly offspring like this terrorizing other kids doesn’t make me want to get in a rush to have any. SMH (shaking my head).

What are your thoughts on this attack based on my description? Do you think that the incident could have been racially motivated? Do you think people would be as mad if all the kids were the same race? Do you feel like kids today are way more violent? Were you ever picked on or saw someone else get picked on as a kid? If so, did the taunting ever turn violent? What punishment do you think the two attackers should receive for this incident?

Speak your piece…

Tagged as: beatdown, bully, bullying, hih school, racially motivated, racism, teen violence, teens

Slim Jackson

I wouldn't even go as far as making it an issue of race. I didn't see the video, but I just know that kids are mean in general. They were mean when I was younger and I'm sure they're a lot more mean now. That kid could have been white or he could have been a nerdy and intimidated Black kid and the same thing probably would have happened. I wanna slap these youth sometimes man.lol. Like I seriously wanna hit them with the front of my hand, then the back of my hand. They be acting up!
paze79

i saw the video. dude took a serious beating. considering he was the only white kid on the bus, it could very well been racial. but even if it wasn't, it still was a disgusting display of mankind at their lowest and basest emotions.. straight up animalistic. growing up, i got bullied a few times just like alot of other kids but it was never remotely close to the extent of what happened on the bus. kids nowadays are totally desensitized and have very little care for anyone but their own selfish narcissistic feelings. i am all for going back to the old days when the teachers were allowed to drop lashes on the wild ass kids!
Rave

Yes, it is racism. The Black kids have either had bad experiences with the White race or they are just plain ole violent...or both. I think both. Let's be honest, we ALL have a smidge of racism and/or prejudice in us.

This event doesn't strike me as a sad occurence, it's just life and the way this world operates. If children had a better overview and true understanding of what hatred is they would think twice about acting out in this manner.

Every parent should make their children read at least 2 books on the Holocaust, and ten books on Nazi Germany. If that just isn't enough the entire New Testament of the Holy Bible. Black history just isn't enough these days, they (blacks, whites, browns, and every other color in between) still don't get it.

FYI - I'm American & Black...
Rita

I have to say not every incident is racially motivated. I am a black female who has been through the same thing when I was a child. My sister and I always rode on the bus. Well the other females on the bus(who was also black) just did not like me or my sister. They began taunting us. Then within seconds my sister and I was attacked. Not to mention my sister was blind. The bus driver did not do anything. Nothing at all. Yes this was very very horrible. I feel like these kids need to be kicked off the bus and their parents need to be fined. If parents were more put too blame for what their kids do we wouldn't have this problem of bullying.
Rita

Also the bus driver should be damn near close to getting fired. To allow violence on a bus and not do anything about it was totally wrong. We have to stand up these days and not let ignorance rule this world. How dare the bus driver let these kids do what they want to do. I don't think so,the bus driver was WRONG!!!!!
Stormyweathers25

I do believe it was racial to a degree. Also a matter of having the upper hand. I'm pretty sure if it was a bus full of white kids neither of the two attackers would have provoked a fight. Let's be truthful some Blacks think that the white boy or girl won't stand up for themselves, especially when they are surround by peers of the same race. Beyond race, its a serious issue in schools, as far as bullying goes. It's become something different. It's not just a shove anymore...parents are allowing and encouraging it. Children are becoming more violent and having no real consequences. Some of these kids are not even thinking before they act, they just do it, off of impulse. I work in schools the things that kids know now a days because of the internet and TV is beyond me. Something needs to be done fast.
Stormyweathers25

Maybe I should retract part of my statement. I heard one of the kids who did break it up said it wasn't a race issue. A book bag was moved, other students egged the boy on and he felt like he had to prove himself.

Still wrong in my eyes...someone check the facts..
Elle

Kids/Teens these days are crazy. And it is only getting worse by the day. I don't think it has much to do with race. It's all over the place, all over the world.

Out here 2 boys just beat a 50 year old man to death because he came to the rescue of some other kid(s) who was/were bullied by these 2 boys beforehand.
A few months back, 2 others almost killed a 70 year old man who politely asked them to stop smoking at the train station.
Thousands of bus drivers are being attacked, stabbed, shot, robbed by 14 and 15 year olds every year in the pursuit of some cash or simply a cell phone.
At school, they beat others up and film it with their cell phones to load it all up on Youtube in an effort to brag with the tough guy/girl behaviour.

It's not just the kids though. Adults see these things happening on the bus, the train or the street and simply walk by.

Nuff said.
CB

I saw the video on the news but didn't feel it was necessarily racially motivated. I think that the kids would have hit anyone they weren't fond of or didn't know sitting next to them, but regardless it was still wrong.

And I think the bullying has gotten worse over the years. I'm 34 yrs old and a petite female...I have had I think 2 fights in school, both in elementary but they paled in comparison to the scale I see in fights nowadays. These little arguments leads to fights that leads to guns and knives getting involved over stupid trivial stuff.

It's just crazy and I honestly fear for a lot of young people these days (especially here in NY where I live).
Mz. Ashley

Come on now people, race did have something to do with this. If it was another black kid that sat next to him, I'm sure he would not have jumped on him like he did the white boy. I did not see the video and i dont think i want too...Sounds horrible. Kids are so stupid these days. You can't even have a fight and win, because then you are afraid someone might come kill you because of it. Our youth needs help!

Stormyweathers...i agree with most of what you said.
da ThRONe

It doesnt necessarily have to be a race issue even though it might have been. But people (not just young people) can be cruel. They do stupid stuff like intimadating other people for little to no reason. Growing up I have seen white kids beat other white kids and black kids beat on other black kids. Just because they felt like they could. Some of us have to disrespect other to feel important. Parent should teach their kids to love themselves weither there in the "In Crowd" or not.
DC Man With a Plan

I would find it ridiculous to have MY son, or any kid I knew, suspended from school and arrested for some B/S like this. Fighting to prevent someone the ability to sit on a school bus? Bcuz you own the seat; the bus or you're bored or angry? Bcuz you're hungry? Or impulsive? Or stupid? Whatever the reason, obviously these kids do not understand the purpose of going to school…of having breath to breathe each day. What a shame. U have to get into THIS type of trouble before the adults around you figure out you have issues?
~C.

i've got a 7 year old in second grade and the things she tells me about school bother me all the time...she had to give some girl two bags of chips just to be her friend.... a little boy asked her to have sex...boys and girls are gettin into full blown fights on the playground. i'm just blown away by it all and i feel lost sometimes...i wasn't expecting some of these issues to come up for a least a few more years...sex and violence and bullying in 2nd grade. wow.
rachel austin

I didn't see the video to know what really happen, but just by hearing it, it sounded racially motivated.You never know if these children experience any racism or not, but i dont believe it's called for. The fact of the matter is that were in a time in age that children are alot more violent now than before, that's why I'm preparing my children for self-defense in this tough world. Sad to say it but children like to bully those who they intimidate, but if that bully realizes that child will defend theirselve, tell me how many times more will the bully come back....
da ThRONe

First off people clearly have a short memory! Kids arent anymore or less violent n ow then ever. There's more camera and more media outlet to report each case of violence. My dad has told me some stories that are similiar to things I went through. Which im sure my never to be born kids will experience.