Latest news with #WallaceMiddleSchool
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
12-year-old accused in hate crime at Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student faces a hate crime charge for her alleged involvement in an attack on twin Muslim students at their Connecticut middle school, authorities and advocates said. The physical altercation happened earlier this month at Wallace Middle School in Waterbury, Connecticut. Through a summons to juvenile court, the accused student was charged with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first and second degree, according to the Waterbury Police Department. Police said in a statement that investigators probing the March 3 incident "determined that the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity, meeting the definition of a hate crime." They also said the classification was reviewed and confirmed by the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office. Another 13-year-old student accused in the altercation was referred to a youth diversionary program instead of being arrested, according to police, "based on her involvement in the incident." Police said their investigation included interviews with students and staff at the school "who were present or otherwise involved" in the incident. The students' names were not released by authorities. According to the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, the students were targeted for wearing hijabs. CAIR's chair Farhan Memon spoke out about the incident in an interview with the FOX affiliate station WTIC-TV. CAIR has reposted the interview to its social media platforms and website, alongside information about the alleged assault. Both sisters suffered injuries in the altercation, which police characterized as minor. They did not require immediate medical treatment at the scene of the attack, according to police, but CAIR said the injuries were "severe enough to require treatment at a hospital." The organization, which advocates for Muslim civil rights and against Islamophobia in the U.S., called the attack "brutal" in a March 12 post on Facebook. "The parents of the victims sought CAIR's assistance because they felt that they were not receiving sufficient communication from the school regarding disciplinary actions against the perpetrators or a clear plan to ensure their daughters' safety," the organization said. The Waterbury Department of Education has now acknowledged the incident as an act of bullying, police said, adding that education officials have "taken disciplinary action, and implemented enhanced school safety measures in response to the incident." "While this was not part of a widespread problem, this is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensure our students are safe and respectful of one another," said Darren Schwartz, interim superintendent of Waterbury Public Schools, in a statement. The Waterbury Police Chief said in a separate statement that his department is committed to taking seriously claims of bias-related incidents, adding the investigation into this one "reaffirms our commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive school environment." CBS News contacted the police and education departments in Waterbury for more information but did not immediately hear back. Nature: Guanacos in Chile Is carbon capture a solution to the climate crisis? Extended interview: Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal on "Othello"
CBS News
23-03-2025
- CBS News
12-year-old accused in hate crime allegedly targeting Muslim students at Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student faces a hate crime charge for her alleged involvement in an attack on twin Muslim students at their Connecticut middle school, authorities and advocates said. The physical altercation happened earlier this month at Wallace Middle School in Waterbury, Connecticut. Through a summons to juvenile court, the accused student was charged with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first and second degree, according to the Waterbury Police Department. Police said in a statement that investigators probing the March 3 incident "determined that the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity, meeting the definition of a hate crime." They also said the classification was reviewed and confirmed by the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office. Another 13-year-old student accused in the altercation was referred to a youth diversionary program instead of being arrested, according to police, "based on her involvement in the incident." Police said their investigation included interviews with students and staff at the school "who were present or otherwise involved" in the incident. The attack allegedly targeted twin seventh-grade students for wearing hijabs, according to the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, whose chair Farhan Memon spoke out about the incident in an interview with the FOX affiliate station WTIC-TV . CAIR has reposted the interview to its social media platforms and website, alongside information about the alleged assault. Both sisters suffered injuries in the altercation, which police characterized as minor. They did not require immediate medical treatment at the scene of the attack, according to police, but CAIR said the injuries were "severe enough to require treatment at a hospital." The organization, which advocates for Muslim civil rights and against Islamophobia in the U.S., called the attack "brutal" in a March 12 post on Facebook . "The parents of the victims sought CAIR's assistance because they felt that they were not receiving sufficient communication from the school regarding disciplinary actions against the perpetrators or a clear plan to ensure their daughters' safety," the organization said. The Waterbury Department of Education has now acknowledged the incident as an act of bullying, police said, adding that education officials have "taken disciplinary action, and implemented enhanced school safety measures in response to the incident." "While this was not part of a widespread problem, this is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensure our students are safe and respectful of one another," said Darren Schwartz, interim superintendent of Waterbury Public Schools, in a statement. The Waterbury Police Chief said in a separate statement that his department is committed to taking seriously claims of bias-related incidents and said the investigation into this one "reaffirms our commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive school environment." CBS News contacted the police and education departments in Waterbury for more information but did not immediately hear back.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Yahoo
12-year-old Connecticut girl accused of hate crime on Muslim classmates
A 12-year-old Connecticut girl accused of assaulting two of her Muslim classmates earlier this month has been charged with a hate crime, authorities announced. The pre-teen, who was not identified, is facing counts of first- and second-degree intimidation based on bigotry and bias, according to a joint statement from Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski, Jr., the Waterbury Police Department and the Waterbury Department of Education. A second unidentified student was also referred to a youth diversionary program instead of being arrested. The altercation unfolded on March 3 at Wallace Middle School, police said. It involved four seventh-grade girls ranging from 11 to 13 years old, including twins who regularly wear hijabs, according to the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. They said the girls were targeted because of their Muslim beliefs, and sustained 'minor injuries' during the scuffle, per the news release. The twins did not require medical attention at the time, authorities noted. Following an investigation, police determined 'the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity meeting the legal definition of a hate crime.' School officials also labeled it 'an incident of bullying,' according to the news release. 'The students who instigated the incident will be properly disciplined by the school district and face appropriate consequences in the judicial system,' Pernerewski said. He noted the altercation was 'an isolated incident' and not 'part of a widespread problem.' CAIR in a statement took issue with mayor's assessment, but did praise law enforcement for making an arrest in the case. 'We vehemently disagree with Waterbury's assessment that this was an isolated case,' Farhan Memon, chairman of CAIR-CT, told the Connecticut Insider. 'We've heard from other parents of Muslim students that their kids have been harassed because of their religion. This result should send a message that bias-motivated actions will not be tolerated in our schools.' If convicted of a the first-degree felony, the 12-year-old suspect faces up to 10 years in prison. The second-degree charge can come with a sentence of up to five years and a fine of $5,000.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Yahoo
Student, 12, accused of hate crime after school fight where two students ‘had hijabs ripped off'
A middle schooler in Connecticut has been accused of committing a hate crime after a fight with two Muslim students, where they were allegedly beat up. The 12-year-old female student from Wallace Middle School in Waterbury was charged with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first- and second-degree on Friday through a court-issued summons to Waterbury Juvenile Court following the incident which took place earlier this month. According to reports, the 12-year-old and another female student got into a fight with twin 13-year-old girls who are from Egypt and regularly wear hijabs to school on March 3. One victim was allegedly 'punched in the face and had bruises on her face and a bloody nose' while the other victim 'had something scraped across her neck' which caused 'contusions and bruising,' the chairperson of the local Council of American–Islamic Relations chapter claimed. "On Monday, March 3, the sisters were beaten and had their hijabs ripped off, a spokesperson for the family said at the time, according to local reports. While the initial incident report claimed no students needed medical attention, the report from the Islamic advocacy group said the injuries were enough to require hospital treatment. 'Investigators determined that the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity, meeting the legal definition of a hate crime,' the Waterbury State's Attorney Office said in a joint press release. The City of Waterbury Department of Education said it has taken disciplinary action and enhanced school safety measures. The other female student involved in the fight was referred to a youth diversionary program as an alternative to arrest. Leaders in the community and the school praised investigative efforts in a joint press release and contended that the incident was isolated. 'The students who instigated the incident will be properly disciplined by the school district and face appropriate consequences in the judicial system,' Mayor Paul Pernerewski said. 'While this is an isolated incident, I remain committed to working with the Waterbury Police and the Education Department to ensure our students have a safe and welcoming educational experience.' Farhan Memon, the chairperson of the Connecticut chapter of the Council of American–Islamic Relations disputed whether it was ioslated. 'We vehemently disagree with Waterbury's assessment that this was an isolated case. We've heard from other parents of Muslim students that their kids have been harassed because of their religion,' Memon said. Memon told WTNH News8 on March 11 that the two girls were 'scared to go back to school' due to the assault.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Yahoo
12-year-old accused of hate crime after 2 Muslim students attacked at Connecticut school
A 12-year-old Connecticut student who police say assaulted two of her Muslim classmates has been accused of a hate crime in the attack. Four seventh-grade students were involved in an altercation at Wallace Middle School in Waterbury, Connecticut, earlier this month, and two 13-year-old Muslim girls were injured, police said. The injured teens regularly wear hijabs, the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) has said. Their relatives called for an investigation into the attack, arguing that the teens may have been targeted because of their religion, police said. Waterbury Police on Friday said in a statement that authorities determined "the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity." The 12-year-old was charged in juvenile court with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first and second degree, authorities said. A second student has been referred to a youth diversionary program rather than being arrested, police said. Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said the attack, which happened March 3, was an 'isolated incident,' and interim Superintendent of Waterbury Public SchoolsDarren Schwartz said the attack did not represent a bigger issue within the school. 'While this was not part of a widespread problem, this is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensure our students are safe and respectful of one another,' he said in a statement. CAIR-CT called the attack 'unacceptable.' 'Schools must be safe spaces for all students, regardless of their religion or ethnicity,' Farhan Memon, chair of CAIR-CT, said in a statement. 'What reportedly happened to these two girls is unacceptable, and the district has a legal and moral obligation to take decisive action to prevent further harm.' Memon has called on the school district to implement mandatory schoolwide anti-bullying training focused on racial and religious discrimination. 'This attack on Muslim students is unacceptable and reflects a broader pattern of bullying and discrimination that must be urgently addressed,' Memon said in a statement. Officials said Friday that the Waterbury Department of Education recognized the attack as bullying, has taken disciplinary action and implemented enhanced school safety measures. This article was originally published on
