Latest news with #WaterburyDepartmentofEducation
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
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
CT middle schooler facing hate crime charge after altercation involving two Muslim classmates
A 12-year-old girl has been charged with a hate crime after an altercation earlier this month involving two Muslim classmates who claimed they were being bullied at a middle school in Waterbury. The 12-year-old was charged Friday with first- and second-degree intimidation based on bigotry and bias through a court-issued summons to Waterbury Juvenile Court, according to a joint release from Waterbury Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski, Jr., the Waterbury Police Department and the Waterbury Department of Education. City officials noted that a second female student was previously referred to a youth diversionary program as an alternative to arrest, based on her involvement in the incident. The Waterbury Police Department's Juvenile Division's Criminal Investigation Bureau conducted an investigation into a physical altercation involving four seventh-grade students at Wallace Middle School on March 3. 'The investigation included interviews with numerous staff members and students who were present or otherwise involved,' according to officials. Two girls alleged they were assaulted by fellow students at the middle school because of their Muslim beliefs, according to the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Two CT middle school students allegedly assaulted after being bullied for Muslim beliefs A school resource officer assigned to the middle school responded to the altercation. Police said that two of the four girls suffered what were described as minor injuries, adding that no one involved required medical attention. According to Farhan Memon, a spokesperson for CAIR, the two Muslim girls were taken to the hospital by their father. One of them allegedly suffered a bloody nose, some bruises to her face and a swollen eye, Memon said. The other allegedly had something scraped across her neck, which left a mark as well as bruising and contusions. Memon said both girls recently moved to Connecticut from Egypt and have allegedly experienced bullying and harassment since. Days before they were assaulted they allegedly told a teacher at the school that they were being bullied for their Muslim beliefs, Memon said. They both allegedly had their hijabs ripped off during the attack. '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's Office reviewed the findings and confirmed this classification,' the joint statement said on Friday. Additionally, the City of Waterbury Department of Education claims they verified the bullying incident, took 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 Interim Superintendent Dr. Darren Schwartz. 'I want to commend and thank Chief of Police Fred Spagnolo and Interim Superintendent of Schools Darren Schwartz for their serious and thorough investigations of this matter,' Pernerewski said. 'The students who instigated the incident will be properly disciplined by the school district and face appropriate consequences in the judicial system. 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.' Spagnolo re-emphasized the department's commitment to investigating all claims of bias-related incidents. 'This investigation reaffirms our commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive school environment. Every student deserves to feel secure and respected in their learning environment, and we will continue to work closely with our school partners to uphold that standard,' he said. Information from Courant reporter Justin Muszynski was used in this report.
