BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. – Two boys captured on video taunting, teasing and yelling a racial slur at a black Bloomfield Hills middle school student will have to answer for their actions in juvenile court.
The boys are shown on cellphone video threatening a fellow student on a school bus and calling him the n-word.
Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper recommends a charge of ethnic intimidation against one student and a harassment charge against the other.
The victim, 8th-grader Phoenix Williams, said he was frightened and felt trapped on the school bus.
On Wednesday, his family released this statement:
"We applaud Jessica Cooper and the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office for taking the first steps toward showing a No Tolerance Policy for Hate Crimes in schools. While we are grateful that this is a move in the right direction in obtaining justice for Phoenix Williams, we are dedicated to continue the fight to ensure that all students are protected." -- Lee and Shanari Williams (Parents of Phoenix Williams)
Meanwhile, the NAACP is demanding an investigation.
Ironically, the NAACP just met with the superintendent of the Bloomfield Hills School District in February after a coach in the district was fired for slapping a player and referring to the student as "nappy." The NAACP said at the time they were told action would be taken to make sure behavior like this would not be tolerated in the district.