Well, some of our neighbors across the pond appear to have lost their damn minds. Currently, police in the U.K. are investigating an incident in which multiple white teenagers apparently chained a black student to a lamppost, whipped him with sticks and called him racist slurs as part of a “mock slave auction.”
The incident occurred in the city of Bath at a secondary school. The Bath Chronicle reports that at least seven white teens were involved in the cruel, racist beating.
The school, which the Chronicle declined to name to protect the victim’s identity, insisted that it “thoroughly investigated” the incident in January and took action “in line with statutory procedures.”
However, the Chronicle reports that the students behind the attack were merely temporarily suspended and are currently back in school, along with the victim.
The school’s principal had initially expelled three of the alleged attackers, but the Bath school’s board of governors overturned the expulsions.
To top it all off, apparently the school did not tell parents what happened until March 13; as a result, several parents are outraged and in shock.
In a message to parents, the school noted:
We have today become aware of media interest in an incident which took place in January and involved a group of established friends and related to a single incident of unacceptable behaviour within the school grounds
A full investigation was instigated in line with both internal school procedures and Department of Education requirements, including contact with the police.
You can be assured that the school has taken this incident exceptionally seriously and that our absolute priority was, and remains, that the right path is taken for all those involved as well as the wider school community.
Given the on-going police investigation and the need to protect all those involved, you will understand that it has been necessary to maintain confidentiality and consequently that the school does not wish to comment further.