Challenging Cyberassaults in the School
A trio of racist eighth-graders at a Catholic school on Long Island bombarded a black 14-year-old classmate with a string of hateful online messages, including an image of man dressed in KKK garb and a doctored
photo of the boy holding a gun to his head.
cyberassault image 6
Moore complaint images: Devin oof
When this and six equally threatening and hateful cyberassault images were directed to Devin Moore, an Eighth Grade student at St. Mary Roman Catholic Elementary School, and the school refused to protect Devin and his younger brother or punish the three students who had sent the threatening racist hate images, the Moore family turned to noted civil rights attorney and social justice advocate Cory H. Morris. Attorney Morris added Victor Yannacone as of counsel in this unprecedented— until now— challenge to cyberassault in the schools.
The initial media commentary summarizes the essential elements of the lawsuit which recently was allowed to move forward towards trial in a landmark decision by United States Senior District Court Judge Dennis R. Hurley.
Cyberassaults against Long Island Black Student
Cyberassaults at Catholic Elementary School
Black student bullied with racist pics
Black student bullied with racist pics
The parents of a bullied 8th-grader have filed a federal lawsuit against their son’s Long Island Catholic school
http://abc7ny.com/parents-sue-school-after-8th-grade-son-bullied/3540996/ By Stacey Sager EAST ISLIP, Long Island (WABC) — They say their son endured racist cyber bullying by three students and school officials at St. Mary School did nothing to stop it. Ursula Moore fears her 14-year-old son Devin will never be the same. She says it all started back in December when three of his classmates crafted racist and horrifying pictures in texts. Moore says the school principal did nothing. “There’s excuse after excuse after excuse, he refuses to meet with me and my family,” Moore said. “I mean, how can you send my son, a black child, a noose?” By April, it had gotten worse: There were pictures of Devin’s face superimposed in a trash can, as a gorilla, even with a gun pointing at his head. By April, it had gotten worse: There were pictures of Devin’s face superimposed in a trash can, as a gorilla, even with a gun pointing at his head. (Photos released as part of lawsuit)
Moore complaint images: Devin is garbage
“When I first saw these images, I felt really scared and anxious and paranoid,” Devin said. “I think these boys are trying to come after me.” The attorney for the family filed a civil rights complaint in federal court. On Wednesday, the judge called Devin’s situation “clearly outrageous,” but expressed legal concerns over how the complaint was drafted. Only the school, the Diocese and the principal were included as defendants — not the three classmates. That is now being changed and one of the classmates already has an attorney to defend him. “It’s a quantum leap from those pictures, to establish a legal violation of civil rights,” Vesselin Mitev, the defendant’s attorney, said. The Moore family disagrees and said Devin, a good student, now comes to school terrified and his school is sending a terrible message: “That this is OK, we tolerate bullying, we tolerate racism,” Moore said. “It’s disgusting.” The Moores hope to be back in federal court as early as next week — they are seeking damages and hope the three classmates are expelled before graduation on June 15. The Diocese of Rockville Center and the Suffolk County police did not comment on the case.