Local students watch the bus monitor video
/ Jessica Cain
Local anti-bullying advocates say they can't believe the abuse Greece bus monitor Karen Klein endured when students bullied her, and now they're speaking out to help teens stand up for what's right.
Members of the group Stop the Hate, Spread the Hope, which was created by West Genesee High School students, have been speaking out against teens and children bullying their peers. Now, in light of the bus monitor video, they're expanding their mission.
"Now, it's not just our teen-to-teen message," says group member Nick Longo. "We want to address helping adults and helping everybody."
The teens say they couldn't believe the cruelty they witnessed in the video.
"I was just disgusted," says Morgan Lynk, who just finished her sophomore year of high school. "The first time I watched it, I couldn't finish it because I was like, 'I can't bear to listen to this anymore. It's awful.'"
The teens say they were also shocked that no other students on the bus stood up to the bullies and tried to stop what was happening.
They have a message for all teens: If you see something, say something.
"I think if it were me, I would just stand up and say 'Why are you doing this?'" says Amy Baranello, who just finished her junior year of high school. "It's not cool to treat someone that way because, really, the golden rule. Would you want to be treated that way?"
Although, the teens admit, it's not always easy to speak up.
"It's going to be hard," says Longo. "People are going to come out and say, 'Why are you doing what you're doing? Why are you standing up to make a change? Why are you trying to push the status quo?' Simply look at them and say, 'Why not?'"
Do you have any advice on how to stand up against bullying? Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? Post your comments below.
