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Share13 Calgary kids suspended in attack that may have been inspired by cartoon
By The Canadian Press
Published: November 21, 2008 9:27 PM
CALGARY — More than a dozen students were suspended and police are investigating after a red-headed Grade 10 student was swarmed and beaten in an attack that may have been inspired by the animated TV show “South Park.”
School boards across Canada were on alert Thursday for “Kick a Ginger Day,” which targeted red-haired people and gained momentum through the social networking website Facebook.
Calgary police spokesman Kevin Brookwell said the assault at St. Francis School could result in criminal charges against the students involved.
“People have to realize there are consequences for their actions,” he said.
The student suffered minor bruising and returned to class on Friday, said Janet Sutherland, spokeswoman for the Calgary Catholic School District.
A high school student in Prince George, B.C., also went home with what are reported to be welts after he was kicked 18 times for having red hair.
It’s not clear where the idea for such a day originated. But the Eastern School District in Newfoundland pointed to a recent South Park episode where the potty-mouthed character Eric Cartman delivers a class presentation on “Ginger kids,” referring to red-haired, freckled children as suffering from an incurable disease.
The district even went so far as to issue a warning advising principals and teachers to be on the lookout for violent attacks against red-haired youths after several parents had stumbled onto Facebook sites promoting the day and became concerned.
Sutherland said the incident at St. Francis was the only one considered serious enough by Calgary school authorities to warrant a police investigation, but noted that the board is investigating another incident.
At St. Alphonsus, four Grade 7 red-headed girls were repeatedly kicked by about a dozen girls and boys at the school.
Catherine, who didn’t give her last name to protect her daughter, said her 12-year-old came home limping on Thursday.
“It was Grade 8 and 9 students who were coming up and saying, ‘it’s Kick a Ginger Day’ and just really wailing on them,” she said.
