Police Investigate Coordinated Attacks on Redheads
Police investigate connection to episode of “South Park
As many as four red-headed students attacked in Calabasas.
A 13-year-old boy kicked several times in British Columbia.
The connection? All of these kids have red hair.
The Calabasas attack took place Friday at A.E. Wright Middle School. The first reported victim was a 12-year-old boy in the seventh grade. Three other students also reported being attacked, police said.
Another 13-year-old red headed boy in British Columbia was kicked several times as he made his way to classes throughout the day. The young victims were not seriously hurt.
The incidents may have been motivated by a Facebook message on Friday saying it was "Kick a Ginger Day." "Ginger" is a label given to people with red hair, freckles and fair skin.
A 2005 episode of "South Park" featured "gingers" being picked on. One of the cartoon characters on the show said, “We’ve all seen them. On the playground. At the store. Walking on the streets. They creep us out , and make us feel sick to our stomachs. I am talking, of course, about Ginger Kids.”
Calabasas student Hannah Krieger, 11 years old, was one of the kids that was kicked on her way to class.
"I knew it was on purpose just because of who I am and what I look like. It hurts my feelings," said Krieger.
Authorities said that the assaults on the Calabasas students are not being investigated as a hate crime.
The Kick a Ginger Day Facebook page has been removed. A Utah group created a Facebook page called “Hug a Ginger Day” to counteract the other page.
