The parents of a 14 year-old Brooklyn boy say they will sue the city after their son was blinded in one eye during a brutal anti-gay attack by two fellow students.
Kardin Ulysse, 14, has undergone two surgeries on his right eye since the June 5 beatdown at Roy H. Mann Junior High School in Bergen Beach. It is unclear whether the bullies’ multiple punches or the broken shards of lens from his eyeglasses caused the damage to his cornea. “The doctor says he needs a transplant,” Pierre Ulysse said. “For me to send him to school with two eyes and come back with one eye is really absurd. “I want the world to know about this,” he added. Kardin, an eighth-grader, was set upon by a pair of seventh-graders who were calling him a “fucking faggot” a “pussy,” a “transvestite” and “gay,” according to a Department of Education occurrence report. While one schoolmate pinned the victim’s arms, the other rained punches on Kardin’s face, head and neck. Kardin broke away and the fight continued in the cafeteria until school safety officers and school aides finally intervened.The parents' lawyer is calling on police to investigate the assault as a hate crime. Both suspects are charged with misdemeanors in Family Court.
I have to ask: what kind of parents do the attackers have?
At a time when you have anti-gay groups like the National Organization for Marriage and Family Research Council fighting gay couples rights, why are they not instead fighting parents like these attackers seem to have? These are kids hunting, beating and blinding 14 year old boys.
Tony Perkins - why don't you work to prevent THIS?
Those with ignorance that can bring them to find reason to get that evil... Should be buried ten feet underground and forgotten.
ReplyDeleteOK, Randy... I am with you on the sentiment, but asking Tony Perkins to prevent attacks like this is like asking Goebbels to fight anti-Semitism.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting you posted this - I made a similar commentary last year - http://apicone929.blogspot.com/2010/09/who-raised-these-kids.html
ReplyDeletesue the parents too as they are responsable for the hate in thier kids, its just sick the lad is only 14 years old for gods sake
ReplyDeleteYou can blame the parents all you want, but the teenagers involved won't learn anything that way.
DeleteYou can't blame the parents. My parents did everything to stop my little brother from being a thief. They loved, they grounded, they called the cops, they did counseling and therapy, and nothing worked. Their hearts were broken because they thought they failed.
DeleteThey didn't. My brother failed.
Don't be so quick to blame the parents.
While sometimes you can't blame the parents, children are who they are, sometimes you can. If the parents are members of groups opposed to the rights of gays, or if they speak out against gay rights, then clearly they are to blame because the support the mentality.
DeleteMisdemeanors in Family Court - there's your problem right there. There is NO excuse for violence and hatred. For teenagers to think that is EVER appropriate shows a gross negligence on their parents' behalf as well as theirs for ignoring everything they were taught about tolerance at school. The perpetrators are a disgrace to society.
ReplyDeleteHow is this considered a misdemeanor? Good lord!!
ReplyDeletei agree it all starts with the parents. and since they are minors- both the children AND the parents should be held liable.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with this if we held parents responsible for their children's criminal behavior perhaps they would learn to be better parents.
DeleteI disagree with what you say, you do not know the parents stance... ignorance is what causes this... and the writer is playing the same game
ReplyDeleteDear Ulysse:
ReplyDeleteLove is our weapon. We don't have to be punch anyone on his face, because all we do is love. Is time for you to speak up. Get your voice "louder than bombs". It's time to stop hating and start loving each other. Take that as your rebellion. Rebel against those who destruct everything they don't like. Construct love and acceptance, that will take your heart so far...
Love for you and your family from BA, Argentina.
Nicolás.
because people who try to deny homosexuals' their civil rights obviously don't care about the rights of homosexual children to be gay and safe. People like Tony Perkins would probably explain that the victim was responsible for the attack, by "looking" or "acting" "gay."
ReplyDeleteLike hell misdemeanor! I'm from New York and that is no misdemeanor!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely insane. I just wrote a post about all the anti-gay things that happen in the US and how so much goes unreported and unpunished. I hope that the police take care of this. This kid deserves so much better!
ReplyDeletei feel like the teens that beat him knew what they where doing was wrong but didnt care. i think they should have to sit in a prision for a couple years. they could of killed him. and i agree their parents should be held responsible too.
ReplyDeleteI may only be 15 myself, but I really think the "attackers" should have their family life evaluated and have them seek help in why they're bullying in the first place. That juss sickens me that they blinded him at 14, he's still got his whole life ahead of him. And the bullies definitely should seek some help because they shouldn't have to be for unknown reasons.
ReplyDeleteThis is just the sort of life-changing tragedy that I refer to when I frown at the anti-gay 'joke or comment' or tell you it isn't 'funny'. When I hear someone say 'it's just a word', or 'you know I don't mean you', or 'don't get so riled up! it's just a joke', I know I need to stand up and Educate.
ReplyDeleteBy allowing these 'jokes', we are obviously accepting these comments - to one degree or another, as true. So when some 7th grader hears this derogatory stuff most of their life, it sinks in deeply, and it can eventually become the truth....
And we all know the pressures on kids. To not be the bottom kid in class, or to have someone else to divert the negative attention to, this sort of thing is much more likely to happen. When a hurting or confused or angry kid looks around at who to pass the hurt on to, the person most likely chosen is going to be 'the Butt of Jokes'.
Chickens sometimes peck to death the odd chicken, or the injured chicken, or the simply different chicken. Difference is a source of fear...
My point is that not only as a society, but also as a responsible adult, we must not accept the manure of prejudice spreading around, not even in such a seemingly innocuous manner as joking, because each occasion is fertilizer to hate, to prejudice, and inevitably, to a reason or excuse to harm someone.
Politicians are risking the happiness, freedoms, and very lives of Gay and Lesbian people everywhere, and as well, the splash-over affects anyone who is in any way associated with a GLBTQ person... or who looks like they might be a LGBTQ... and these reprehensible political campaigns are simply a grab for power, or money or prestige. Certainly not justifiable in the face of a young boy who will have only one decent eye for the rest of his life....
Cause and effect may not be so clear to some, not so easily recognized and routed out... however, the evidence is there... And we are all guilty of promoting prejudice toward someone, a religion, a country, a gender, a profession.... and it is time to pay attention to what effect we are having in the world.
Like Randy said, who are these kids' parents, and how have they raised these criminals? Maybe they birthed sociopaths, or psychopaths? but it seems more likely they raised angry and prejudiced boys who only knew to beat the very sight of of a schoolmate... We must not add to the hysteria, and we must protect our kids and our citizenry... we don't have to love each and every person, nor condone their lives or morals - (I have my own groups of people I find reprehensible, too...) but it is our duty to protect - not to promote wonton attacks on 7th grade kids...
My heart goes out to the youngman and his parents/siblings. I am not suprised at the attitude of some young people/nor adults. They are ignorant and they do know what they are doing is wrong. Most people who commit these atrocious crimes run/hide because they are bullies. To hold down someone is sad. Parents take them to court call the media do what you have to do in order to find JUSTICE for your son. I know money is not the answer but hitting the parents in the pocket is key. Medical/punitive and making them pay for lawyers fees as well. I am quite sure these boys have been in trouble before. I am praying for you and your son. And I wish him well.
ReplyDeleteThose worthless thugs need to be charged with felonies in criminal court, and their parents charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Bigotry is taught, folks, and those who teach it must be held accountable for their hate.
ReplyDeleteWhy sue the city? did they hold there son down as the bullies beat him? If you sue anyone Sue the Boys and the people who taught them to hate.
ReplyDeleteMy Heart goes out to the young man and Hope He can keep a Beautiful heart and not harbor hate for those who hurt him. For Forgiveness is divine and the best revenge against hate.
May who ever you worship watch over you in your struggle.
Why sue the city? Because the city only gave the idiots a "misdemeanor". Many gay/lesbian beatings are done and are HIGHLY under punished.
DeleteAnd please don't forget that a corneal transplant costs money, they should sue everyone responsible, not just punitively: the 14 year old deserves a chance to see
Deleteout of both eyes.
Unreal!!! As the parent of a student in our local GSA, I am appalled that this is only a misdemeanor! It doesn't matter what the age, ppl should ve held accountable in these situations. It's uncalled for. When is our society going to learn EVERYONE is the same I side. I'm so sorry this child had to go thru this. And to those that make excuses for what was done, u wouldn't be making an excuse if Ur were Ur child!!!
ReplyDeletetake a stand ... set an example and for those that were envolved .. the abusers and i am sure there was a crowd .. every last one of them should be charged ... just cause your watching doesnt make you innocent ... they are just as guilty ... they could have stopped it ... but its sad ... i feel for you ... i feel for the feelings you are goin to have after this is over ... take care and conquer life
ReplyDeleteregardless of whether its a hate crime toward gays, people who think that diversity is a justification to be an asshole, need to figure this out. all you're doing is making enemies. and considering this is on the internet, if i were them id be very afraid to be out of sight of 20+ witnesses and a security camera. cause i can honestly say i would help the victim out and end the fight with a federal offense for myself and 3 grand in hospital bills for the bullies
ReplyDelete