Nearly 5,000 people joined an online Facebook campaign which urged members to “get them steel toes ready” for a day of booting last week. The website appears to have been inspired by an episode of the cartoon South Park, in which a young character called Cartman describes people with red hair as “evil” and “soulless”. Dozens of children left messages on the page claiming to have carried out attacks on the so-called “National Kick a Ginger Day” on Thursday, Nov 20.
Some Canadian schools had appealed to students not to take the Facebook group seriously, as word of the campaign spread across the country. Ironically, National Kick a Ginger Day fell during Canada’s bullying awareness week. The RCMP has launched an investigation and warned that those involved could face charges. [Source: The Telegraph]
What happened last week? Is this the new face of bullying…or organized hate? What is the best response?
We’re joined by 13-year-old Nanaimo student Aaron Mishkin, who was attacked at school last week, Michael Monroe, CEO and superintendent of the Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district, and Tulani Ackerman, a Prince Rupert school teacher whose brother was targeted—and whose students are dying their hair red in a move of support and solidarity.
