Dive Brief:
- Hundreds of students, parents, and supporters are protesting a central Oklahoma high school, declaring that the administration mishandled rape allegations made by three female students, aged 14-16, against a male senior, and ignored subsequent bullying of the victims.
- Police are currently investigating the alleged sexual assaults of the three female students, including one incident that allegedly occurred on the school's campus.
- While the school claims it acted swiftly — it suspended the alleged assailant for the remainder of the school year when a video of an assault came to light in September — protesters argue that the victims were not helped when ensuing bullying occurred.
Dive Insight:
When one of the victims swung a backpack at a male student who kept bullying her about the assault, the school decided to suspend both students for three days. The decision to suspend the female student, who not only was a victim of sexual assault but was being bullied for it, did not sit well.
Danielle Brown, a 15-year-old sophomore who said she's friends with all three girls, said she helped organize Monday's protest.
"My friends were looking for support, and they weren't finding it," Brown told the Associated Press. "I think this show of support today would give them a boost of confidence to come back."
Schools are meant to be havens of safety and support, and if the allegations are true, this high school fell short. All three of the victims have since left the school.