Yesterday's attack has "required us to rethink the situation" regarding student walkouts, MCPS Superintendent Jack Smith will tell students this morning in a video message. Smith will tell students who defy the order that they will face disciplinary action, a change from the "bring a note from Mommy" policy MCPS had just 24 hours ago. "I am asking and expecting all students to remain in school," Smith will say.
The Tuesday promise by the Montgomery County Council of "community safety" and "respect" for every resident of the jurisdiction apparently didn't apply to Donald Trump supporters. A 15-year-old Trump supporter was brutally beaten by as many as six students, eyewitnesses said, during an otherwise-peaceful protest by Richard Montgomery High School students yesterday in Rockville.
Wearing a Trump "Make America Great Again" cap, the boy was repeatedly punched, thrown to the ground, and then kicked multiple times by his attackers, according to WTOP, which quoted Rockville City Police Major Michael English as saying the students "jumped him and beat him up pretty bad." The student was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Media accounts suggest he could have potentially-serious head injuries, describing him as "disoriented" and groggy following the beatdown.
According to the Rockville police, only one of the attackers has been identified, but is not in custody. They say the attack occurred in the 100 block of Maryland Avenue, the location of the County Council building where councilmembers declared peace and respect for all just 24 hours earlier. Police say the identified 17-year-old student will face second-degree assault charges.
To his credit, RM principal Damon Monteleone condemned the attack. Dan McHugh, VP of the Montgomery County Young Republicans, said he was "appalled" by the violence. "We condemn any act of violence, or hate crime of any kind, directed towards any candidate [an] individual supports," he said Tuesday.
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| Councilmember Hans Riemer endorses student walkouts on |
It's certainly a positive to have hundreds of students this engaged in the political arena - hopefully they'll register to vote, and governments will consider lowering the voting age to 16, as Takoma Park has. It's also ironic to have politicians who claim to be concerned about pedestrian safety egging kids on to walk into busy state highways during school hours.
County and MCPS officials could face legal consequences, should these students be injured during the hours we are paying exorbitant dollars to give them a free education. The parents of the beaten student certainly have grounds for a civil suit against MCPS in this case. Guess who would make the payouts in those lawsuits? You, the taxpayer.
It now appears Smith has come to the same realization.
Our other local officials seem to have missed yet another of the messages of the successful passage of term limits last week - residents are asking them to be the adults in the room on this, and so many other serious issues. Facing so many crises from our budget deficit to a failed transportation system to our moribund private sector economy, the last thing we need is Hans Riemer and George Leventhal trying to be the "cool dad."
Perhaps the most immoral crisis of all, is our worsening achievement gap at MCPS. One thing's for sure - that gap didn't get narrowed while students were walking around highways and malls this week.
20 comments:
No report on the man who threatened the demonstrators with a gun?
6:14: Sounds like a lame attempt to divert attention from the violence at yesterday's rally. In reality, it's another example of how students could have been injured, and MCPS held liable in court, because they were off premises during school hours. Guns aren't allowed on school property.
The big stories here are violence, and the superintendent's reversal and banning of walkouts.
The big story is violence ... apparently waving around a firearm doesn't count. They need to keep the kids on campus because there are nutjobs like that out there. And their tacit internet supporters.
this guy looks like Ken Bone
the sooner these students realize that nobody cares and that their opinions are just opinions the better off they'll be. no participation trophys or medals being given so go back to school
This is the expected slanted, conservative viewpoint of always BLAMING the demonstrators. This "brat" was instigating the demonstrators by repeatedly taunting them according to student social media. Many of these comments were from the actual classmates of the perp, who state he has been loudly taunting days prior to the demonstration. I'm not saying this should be condoned, just pointing out the fact that this sounds more like a good old-fashioned playground beat-down for running your mouth. He's injuries are self-inflicted DYER!
That kid was a troll, just like Dyer. Maybe he's related.
"Whining and protesting won't change a thing."
You never know. Has in the past.
Plus, it's one of those pesky rights we have as Americans.
7:34: Good to know that self-proclaimed supporters and paid representatives of George Leventhal and Hans Riemer advocate "a good old-fashioned playground beatdown" for County residents who hold different political views from them. Nice.
9:22: You'll notice there's no press release or press conference from the "peace and tranquility" County Council about the beating that took place after they created a climate of hate, fear and violence over the last nine days.
9:06: Wouldn't it make more sense to get active in the community, instead of wasting hours of time protesting something that is done and cannot be changed? The election is over. It's time to move on. I've voted for winners and losers. I've never protested the election results when my candidate lost. It's really a form of child abuse that adults are manipulating these kids as avatars for their own political agenda, and putting them at risk of bodily harm to do it. Can't they inspire kids with a positive message of how we can all cooperate for change? Why when a divisive election is finally over would the Council and MCPS try to keep it going? Let the kids enjoy their holiday, and fight your political wars yourself.
"The County Council...created a climate of hate, fear and violence over the last nine days."
Just in case anyone had any doubt that Robert Dyer is completely insane.
1:15: The results speak for themselves. They've never mobilized after any of the other hate graffiti over the last 20 years. Suddenly, for purely political reasons, they are telling their constituents that they, the "leaders," don't feel "safe - and that you, by extension, shouldn't either. "Terrible gloom and doom ahead. Be afraid. Be very afraid!" I've never seen or heard anything like this in Montgomery County.
"Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." That's exactly what happened in this case, and our officials should be ashamed of themselves.
Dyer, how many incidents of hate-based graffiti and vandalism occurred in the 10 months between January 1 of this year and November 8, and how many have occurred just in the past nine days? You are completely clueless, Dyer.
I wish folks like Reamer would back off using children as pawns for political statements. Stay away from my kids creepy Hans!
7:40: You seem to have forgotten the attacks on the Black Lives Matter banner at the Unitarian Church off River Road, just to name a few. Go back through the years - this stuff happens all the time.
Just because it happens all the time does not make it right. You can bury your head in the sand regarding the increase in hate crimes in 2016, but it is happening.
This country doesn't usually have protests after an election. That should give one pause to wonder why then with this election.
Please go do some research on the reasons for protesting. It's part of what makes this country. The freedom to let your voices be heard. To say you disagree with something. To not be sheep.
We should be optimistic but not ever oblivious.
Hands Reimer supporting these ridiculous walkouts is not surprising he's a leftist. His idol Barrack Hussein too does not discourage protests of American democracy at work, but rather promotes rioting, chaos and mayhem in the streets.
Soon, we will have a new Law & Order President, Donald J. TRUMP! Let the swamp draining begin!
"County Council about the beating that took place after they created a climate of hate, fear and violence over the last nine days."
You need serious help. Breitbart is a more legit source for political news than this blog.
11:24AM is a sheep
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