The U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights is looking in to the Nex Benedict case.
So what are we suppose to do? Get the C**p beat out of us because if we defend ourselves it is “mutual fight” that is Bull!
Don’t forget the feds also have the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009.
The Advocate writes…Education Department launching an investigation into death of Nex Benedict
The Hill
BY BROOKE MIGDON
March 1, 2024The Department of Education said Friday that it is opening an investigation into the death of Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old Oklahoma high school student who died one day after getting into a fight in the girls bathroom at school, where they were allegedly bullied for months over their gender identity.
The department’s Office for Civil Rights notified the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) of the investigation, which it said was opened in response to a letter sent by the LGBTQ rights organization that alleged Nex’s school district, Owasso Public Schools, failed to respond appropriately to the sex-based harassment that may have contributed to Nex’s death.
HRC President Kelley Robinson called for federal investigations into the teenager’s passing in letters sent on Feb. 21 to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
“We are deeply concerned about the failure of Owasso High School to address documented instances of bullying, violence, and harassment against Nex, which occurred in earnest over the course of the previous school year and were in violation of Nex’s rights under Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972,” Robinson wrote in her letter to Cardona.
Body camera footage from the Owasso Police Department revealed a conversation between Nex and School Resource Officer Caleb Thompson, providing critical context to the altercation. Nex explained that the conflict arose “because of the way that we dressed,” leading to bullying. Nex recounted being jumped by three older girls after retaliating against their harassment by squirting water at them. Officer Thompson’s response in the footage highlighted the complex dynamics of school bullying, suggesting that Nex’s defensive action could be perceived as part of a “mutual fight,” thereby complicating the legal implications of the altercation.
Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, a Democrat from Wisconsin, expressed his gratitude for the probe.
“I am grateful to the Department of Education for opening up an investigation into Owasso Public Schools,” Pocan said in a statement. “Nex Benedict deserved to go to school without fear of bullying and should be alive today. No investigation will ever be able to make up for the loss of Nex’s life, but this investigation is an important step toward ensuring that all students in Owasso Public Schools can learn free from discrimination or harassment. As this investigation continues, we can all honor Nex’s life by fighting against the wave of anti-trans bills and rhetoric sweeping the country.”
Updated March 2 @ 6:45AM
I had a friend, now deceased, who had a trans-grandchild who bullied constantly. She had to leave her high school because of the constant bullying; she already had sufficient credits to graduated and was already also attending community college. In fact she actually had her community college graduating ceremony before her high school graduation. Her mother and grandfather constantly went to conferences with the school principal and nothing was ever done. My advice to anyone experiencing overt bullying is to contact the local police department and by-pass the school authorities, if your state has an anti-discrimination law on the books, if there is any sort of physical assault.
ReplyDeleteCorrection to my post. Fingers ran amok. First sentence s/b "who was bullied constantly."
Delete