Son's 'Innocence Is Gone' After Racist Bullying, LITH Mom Says

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — Racist bullying of a 13-year-old Lake in the Hills middle school student has gotten so bad it's resulted in a school lockdown and, for one student, hate crime and disorderly conduct charges, a local mother says. Mom Andrea Jones told the Chicago Tribune her son was targeted by bullies who called him racial slurs and "slave," and sang songs to him with the lyrics changed to racial epithets. Earlier this week, a student was charged after allegedly posting a video threatening the teen. Now, Huntley Community School District 158 say it's taking action in response to the bullying.

The threatening video shows the neighborhood surrounding Marlowe Middle School and zooms in on the school as a youth says "he's going to kill people on his list," Jones told the Tribune.

Jones said her daughter, who witnessed verbal abuse against her brother — who has had a banana tossed at him before being told, "Pick it up, monkey" — has also been threatened.

"(My son) doesn't deserve any of this," Jones said. "I don’t want him to be angry. Nobody wants that for their kid because it just — some of his innocence is gone and that makes me sick."

Police were called the campus Oct. 19 in response to the threatening video, and the campus was placed on lockdown. Huntley Community School District 158 Superintendent John Burkey said the student accused of posting the video was not in school that day, according to the Daily Herald.

This week, Burkey issued an update for students and parents, saying the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office approved charges against the accused student on Monday. While a district disciplinary process is under way, Burkey said he cannot disclose details.

"The District has taken and continues to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the school," Burkey said. "The disciplinary process is designed to apply the strongest appropriate consequences for the student responsible and to ensure the safety of the school environment going forward."

Burkey said the district cannot divulge the name of the student involved in the investigation or details related to criminal proceedings. He added the district is taking these steps to address hate and violence:

• Preventing bullying, appreciating differences in others, and reporting threatening or inappropriate behaviors have been addressed with the whole school in many ways, including regular lessons in advisory classes.
• On the back of all student IDs is a phone number students can use to anonymously report incidents.
• An anti-bullying speaker will address all Marlowe students at assemblies on November 6. The principal also will address students at these assemblies to reiterate that behavior that threatens or demeans another person for who they are will not be tolerated.
• A student leadership team was created earlier this year and has met regularly with school administration to discuss issues of school culture.
• A District-wide Diversity and Inclusion Working Group convened last year is working to address issues for the entire district based on input from students and parents.

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