Family sues school over bullied teen's suicide

Lawsuit alleges officials ignored ongoing bullying that led to Emilie Olsen's suicide



The family of a 13-year-old Ohio Chinese American girl says she was continually assaulted, bullied and harassed online by white students before she took her own life, according to a new lawsuit.

Family of girl who killed herself sues school

The family of Emilie Olsen has filed a federal wrongful lawsuit against he Fairfield City School District, claiming that school officials knew about the constant bullying, but did not do enough to stop it.

"Emilie and her parents tried to end the bullying and repeatedly pleaded with certain defendants to help," according to the lawsuit. "Defendants failed to stop the bullying, and it continued."

Stand up against bullying at the #ActToChange Live Event

Saturday, November 21 at the Japanese American National Museum



This Saturday, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, in partnership with the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and the Sikh Coalition, will host a live event as part of the "Act To Change" campaign on bullying prevention. The event will feature distinguished AAPI personalities, performers, and community leaders in an effort to raise awareness about how to take action against bullying.

It's happening Saturday, November 21 at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. Here are some more details about the event:

School district claims kid wasn't bullied, hurt himself

First grader Jeremy Tsou suffered a fractured skull, requiring brain surgery.



More on the Southern California first grader who was bullied so severely, he suffered a skull fracture and had to undergo brain surgery. Thanks to social media shares, Jeremy Tsou's story has gained some traction -- over five months after the incident -- and now mainstream media outlets have started to pick up the story.

Parents Say Bullied Boy Needed Brain Surgery

Eli Tsou and Jenny Yang learned their son Jeremy, then a first grader at Baldwin Stocker Elementary School in Arcadia, suffered a head injury on May 19 when the Arcadia Unified School District sent them a "Notification of Possible Head Injury" letter. Jeremy says he fell and hit his head on a desk when another student tripped him.

While the letter said the injury "did not appear serious," it turns out that Jeremy suffered a fractured skull and brain bleeding, requiring surgery.

First grader suffers fractured skull in bullying incident

But his school claims he slipped on a pencil.



Got this story passed along to me via social media... This is a parent's frustrating, heartbreaking story of bullying and a school administration's refusal to take action or accountability for an incident that sent one young student to the hospital with a fractured skull. Ridiculously, the school claims the kid tripped on a pencil.

On the ironic occasion of anti-bullying week at her child's school, Jenny Yang (no relation to comedian Jenny Yang) shared a Facebook post about her son Jeremy's traumatic experience with bullying. Five months ago, Jeremy -- then, a first-grader -- was pushed and tripped by a boy in his classroom at Baldwin Stocker Elementary School in Arcadia, California. He suffered a fractured skull and brain bleeding, requiring surgery.

According to Jenny, the school not only refused to acknowledge that her son was bullied, but made up a story that Jeremy tripped on a pencil. Jeremy's parents are now sharing about his experience to raise awareness about bullying, and send a message to bullied kids "that there are still people who stand behind you and who will fight for you."

Here's Jenny's Facebook post:

Community demands action in Cincinnati bullying incidents

Parents call on school board to address bullying on Asian American student.



On Thursday night in Cincinnati, over 150 angry community members gathered at a Fairfield Board of Education meeting to demand answers regarding ongoing bullying at a local middle school. Parents are protesting school officials inaction after a student took her own life last year, as well as another recent allegation of bullying against an Asian American student at the same school.

150 people show up at Fairfield board meeting to protest bullying

The school district has been under fire for its handling of bullying ever since Emilie Olsen, a student at Fairfield Middle School, took her own life last December. Her family contended that bullying had a hand in her death. Since then, parents say that another Asian American student has been bullied at the school -- by the same student who allegedly bullied Olsen.

One parent said this eighth grade daughter, who is Asian American, was recently the target of bullying by a while male student. The bullying resulted in a physical altercation in which the Asian American student was tripped and suffered a mild concussion and short term memory loss.

Angry Asian America: Let's Talk About Bullying.

With co-host Jenny Yang and special guest Maulik Pancholy



What's up, YouTube watchers? I am pleased to present the latest edition of our web talk show Angry Asian America on ISAtv. In this episode, co-host Jenny Yang and I are joined by actor Maulik Pancholy, who dropped some knowledge on behalf of "Act to Change," the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders' newly launched public awareness campaign to address bullying. We shake our fists at Jenny's childhood bully and defend the awesomeness of rice, among other things.

Join the #ActToChange movement against bullying

White House Initiative on AAPIs launches public awareness campaign to address bullying.



Did you know that October is National Bullying Prevention Month? Today, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, in partnership with the Sikh Coalition and the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, is launching "Act To Change," a public awareness campaign to address bullying.

Backed by a diverse coalition of supporters, including media platforms (like this website) and national nonprofit organizations, the "Act To Change" campaign aims to empower AAPI youth, educators, and communities with information and tools to address and prevent bullying. It's time to talk about it and take stand. Act to Change.

Here's a video featuring actor Maulik Pancholy, who is a member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, sharing his own experiences being bullied as a kid, and encouraging folks to join him in the #ActToChange movement against bullying:

School takes disciplinary action over bus bullying video

But they're not calling it bullying. It's apparently just "name-calling."



Last week, a Sikh student recorded and uploaded a video of kids bullying him on the school bus, calling him "terrorist." Now that the video has gone viral, Georgia school officials are taking disciplinary action.

Gwinnett County Schools takes disciplinary action over bullying video

Gwinnett County Schools and Duluth Middle School, where the students involved in the video attend, have reportedly taken disciplinary action. However, school officials could not specify what actions were taken, which students were disciplined, or if any students missed school after the incident, citing privacy laws.

The video was recorded on the school bus last week. The 12-year-old, who wears a turban in observance of his Sikh faith, can be heard explaining, "Kids being racist to me." He holds up the camera to show his classmates behind him, and a girl stands up, points at him and yells, "Terrorist! Terrorist!"

Sikh kid films bullying classmates call him "terrorist"

Just another day on the school bus for too many kids.



Some kids are great. Some kids are the worst. The kids in this video are the f*cking worst. In this cell phone video, a Sikh boy filmed himself facing racist abuse and bullying from classmates calling him "terrorist."

The Sikh boy labelled a 'terrorist' by his classmates

The boy is Sikh, and wears a traditional headdress in accordance with his faith. In the short clip, he can be heard quietly explaining to the camera, "Kids being racist to me." A female classmate can be seen pointing at him and shouting, "terrorist, terrorist!" You get the feeling that this is a regular occurrence.

A girl can be heard saying, "I never gave you permission to film me, you're going to court." When they tell him to "quit filming us," the Sikh student responds, "I can't if you're being racist to me, motherfucker." Like I said, this is probably not the first time he's had to deal with this shit.

Racial bullying may have pushed teen to suicide

13-year-old Emilie Grace Olsen fatally shot herself in her bedroom.



Tragic news out of southwest Ohio, where a 13-year-old girl was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot. Her parents believe relentless racial bullying may have pushed her to take her own life.

Fairfield Twp. parents trying to sort out daughter's untimely death

Seventh grader Emilie Grace Olsen fatally shot herself in her bedroom Thursday. Her parents say that Emilie, who was adopted from China, was the target of racial bullying by her classmates at Fairfield Middle School. Starting in the fifth grade, Emilie was bullied with a range of verbal insults, cyber abuse and physical attacks.

However, school officials claim there is no evidence Emilie was being bullied. Her father disagrees:

12-year-old boy takes his own life after being bullied

Friends say Ronin Shimizu was a target of bullying for being a cheerleader.

Some terribly tragic news out of California... In Folsom, family and community members are mourning the death of a 12-year-old boy who took his own life last week because of ongoing bullying and harassment.

Friends, family say Folsom boy was bullied

Seventh grader Ronin Shimizu was found dead in his home Wednesday after he took his own life. According to his parents and friends, he was bullied for years throughout elementary and middle school. The bullying got so bad, he was taken out of school last year and had to be home-schooled.

Friends say Ronin was a target of bullying for being a cheerleader, but his parents say he was bullied for "just being Ronin," by "individuals that could not understand or accept his uniqueness."

Here's the full statement released by Ronin's family:

'Private Danny Chen Way' dedicated in Chinatown

Hundreds gather for unveiling of Manhattan street re-named in memory of local soldier



On Saturday in New York City, hundreds gathered in Chinatown to honor the memory of Pvt. Danny Chen. On Elizabeth Street, between Canal Street and Bayard Street, city officials unveiled "Private Danny Chen Way," a tribute to the local soldier who fell prey to the military's dark culture of bullying and hazing.

Street In Chinatown Renamed In Memory Of Private Danny Chen

Pvt. Danny Chen, who grew up in Chinatown, was found dead in October 2011 after enduring intolerable racial hazing and harassment from fellow soldiers while serving in Afghanistan. His death resulted in eight U.S. Army soldiers charged with various crimes, and highlighted the problem of hazing and discrimination in the military.

The city council approved the street re-naming last December. On Saturday's unveiling, Chen's mother was joined by family, friends and community members who vowed continue to remember the story of Danny Chen.

More Than Half of Asian American Teens are Bullied in School

Saw this infographic posted on the Giant Robot's Twitter last week... We've seen this statistic shared before, but it's worth repeating and reinforcing. And seriously, it hasn't become any less upsetting.

According to survey data released in 2011 by the US Justice Department and Education Department, Asian Americans endure far more bullying in U.S. schools than any other ethnic group, and compared to other teens, Asian American teens are three times as likely to face bullying on the internet.

A report released last year by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and The Sikh Coalition revealed that half of all Asian American students surveyed in New York City have been the target of bias-bullying and harassment, mirroring national statistics.

And according to a report released earlier this month, more than half of Sikh school children are bullied.

Throw in the scores of stories I've posted the years about young Asian Americans who have taken their lives after enduring bullying, violence and harassment in school, and it's all a stark, powerful reminder that we need continued efforts to confront and combat this issue.

Stand up and speak out!

More than half of Sikh school children are bullied

"Go Home, Terrorist": A Report on the Bullying of Sikh American School Children



Last week, the Sikh Coalition released a groundbreaking national report on the endemic bullying of Sikh school children in America. The report was released at a briefing in the U.S. Capitol Building organized by the Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus, the American Sikh Congressional Caucus, and the Sikh Coalition.

"Go Home, Terrorist": A Report on the Bullying of Sikh American School Children

The report found that the majority of Sikh children, just over 50%, endure school bullying. Even worse, over two-thirds of Sikh children report that they are bullied in school. The report is based on surveys and focus groups of over 700 Sikh school children and interviews of over 50 Sikh students in four metropolitan areas: Seattle, Indianapolis, Boston, and Fresno during 2012 and 2013.

The report cites the need for federal data on the bullying of Sikh school children to better target efforts to solve the issue. In addition, the absence of or negative representation of Sikhs in school textbooks nationwide is cited by the report as an opportunity to better combat or mitigate school bullying.

Here's video from the briefing, which included remarks from Rep. Mike Honda:

Community mourns teen who took his own life

Classmates say he was the victim of bullying.

Tragic news out of the San Diego area... In Chula Vista, friends and classmates are in shock, mourning the death of of a high school student jumped who committed suicide on Friday night: Vigil held for South Bay teen who took his own life: Friends say teen was victim of bullying.

17-year-old Steven Liu, a senior at Otay Ranch High School, jumped to his death from a pedestrian bridge near campus. According to friends, he was well-liked and was an exceptional athlete, but some say he was also often picked on, suffered from low self-esteem and could be hard on himself.

Witnesses say they saw Liu crying on the ledge of the bridge before falling to his death:

New report reveals half of Asian American students in New York City schools have been bullied

AALDEF and Sikh Coalition release "snapshot" study of Asian American public school students.

A new report on bullying of Asian American students in New York City reveals that half of all students surveyed have been the target of bias-based bullying and harassment: New Report: Back to School Includes Bias-Based Harassment of Asian and Sikh Students in NYC.

The report, "One Step Forward, Half a Step Back," released by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and The Sikh Coalition -- their third bullying study in five years -- reveals that the city's 2008 bias-based harassment measure, Chancellor's Regulation A-832, has done little to substantially diminish harassment faced by Asian American students in city public schools.

Of the 163 Asian American middle school and high school students surveyed, 50% reported incidents of harassment. Since the last survey of Asian American students in 2009, bullying incidents have increased over 20%. The study also found significant, unsatisfactory shortfalls in school measures in the prevention and follow-up to bullying incidents.

AALDEF files racial harassment complaint on behalf of Kentucky middle school student

This week, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights on behalf of a Kentucky middle school student who says she has suffered racial harassment for several years: Civil Rights Group Files Racial Harassment Complaint on behalf of Asian Middle School Basketball Player.

14-year-old Milena Clarke, an Asian-Kazakh adoptee and recent graduate of Russell Middle School in Kentucky, has been the target of severe, persistent, and ongoing racial harassment in the Russell Independent School District's Red Devils basketball program since July 2011 -- including being called racial slurs like "Russian chink," "gook," and "commie."

David Phan's family speaks out

My heart breaks for this family... Just wanted to make sure you saw this Salt Lake Tribune article with the family of David Phan, the bullied 14-year-old junior high student who committed suicide outside his school earlier this month: Utah family hopes son's suicide buries bullying.

The family opens up to speak out about the way school officials mishandled David's situation, both before and after his death. The school district was quick to cover its ass, stating that David had not reported any incidents of bullying, and that he was "facing significant personal challenges on multiple fronts" -- basically blaming the victim.

This week, the ACLU of Utah wrote a letter to the school district on behalf of the Phan family, urging for a cease and desist of any further public statements about David and his family:

david phan's family sets up anti-bullying fund

Got this passed along to me... The news of 14-year-old David Phan's tragic suicide shocked communities everywhere -- another young life lost to the torment of bullying. But his family is hoping that David's death will not be in vain.

To spread awareness about the issue of bullying, David's family has set up a memorial Wells Fargo account in his name. In lieu of flowers, donations can made to the Anti-Bullying Foundation: In Memory of David Phan. All funds donated will go towards education and outreach efforts against bullying.

Here's the statement from David Phan's family:

Bullied teen commits suicide outside school

Damn. Tragic news out of Utah, where a 14-year-old middle school student committed suicide last week after being bullied one too many times: 14-year-old Bennion Jr. High student commits suicide.

David Phan, a student at Bennion Junior High School in Taylorsville, reportedly shot himself in the head in front of other students on a sky bridge just outside the school on Thursday afternoon.

According to peers, Phan was the victim of extensive bullying. He had been dismissed from school early that day and went home with this mother, but returned in the afternoon. On the bridge, he met up with some other students and produced a handgun just before shooting himself: