Long Island Teen Turns Bullying Situation Into Organization

LONG ISLAND, NY - A Long Island teen is working to fight bullying after experiencing it in his middle school last year. Devin Moore, a 15-year-old, says he was cyberbullied over his race by three boys while a student at St. Mary School in East Islip.

Devin says the boys sent him photos of his face edited onto a gorilla suit, another with a gun aimed at his head and images of Ku Klux Klan members.

Devin says he told his mother, Ursula Moore, about the altered photos, and she emailed his teacher. The teacher agreed the situation was "unacceptable" and arranged a meeting with diocese members and teachers.

However, Devin says the that the school did not take any disciplinary action against his bullies, and he had to continue to attend class alongside the three boys for the rest of the year.

Devin Moore speaking at a public forum

"It was really hard; I got paranoid; I thought they were out to get me," Devin tells Patch. "I was very anxious and just could not concentrate."

He says he wishes his school had expelled the students, but also referred them for counseling.

"It's not a matter of just throwing them out of the school and not helping," Ursula says. "Therapy has to be part of the conversation."

After his own experience and hearing of others who have experienced similar bullying situations, the Bay Shore teen — who is now a freshman at Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School in Brookville — started a new organization, "#RaceToSpeakUp."

"I know that other kids were being bullied like I was, and I wanted to help them," Devin says. "I want to help them to speak up and feel like they have someone to talk to."

As part of his message, he is working with local legislators William Spencer and DuWayne Gregory, as well as members of the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying to help get a law passed to hold schools accountable in bullying situations.

Devin pictured with Legislator William Spencer

He is also hoping to require schools to host mandatory anti-bullying classes that teach students and educators how to handle and identify bullying.

"We're extremely proud of him," Ursula says. "This has been very ugly and hurtful, and he turned it around to help other kids."

Devin even started an online petition on Change.org to help get his law passed. As of Thursday, the petition has received 178 signatures.

He is also receiving support for his local community, including the Islip chapter of the NAACP.

"He wants to make a real change that is going to impact people's lives," Ursula says. "Bullying has to be addressed; you can't solve a problem by ignoring it."

Devin speaking to Legislator DuWayne Gregory about his organization

Devin is also creating a platform for other students who are experienced bullying to reach out and speak out or just have someone to talk to.

"No matter how hard it gets, no matter how bad the situation seems, don't hurt yourself because of them," Devin says. "Speak out about them, and if you can't get someone to listen to you, you can contact me. I want to help."

He says several other teens have already reached out to the teen on his Instagram page (@racetospeakup) and through email — racetospeakup@gmail.com — for support. Devin has also been invited to speak at some schools to share his story.

All photos courtesy of Ursula Moore

The Bully Menace: A Patch Series

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