Bastrop ISD parent protesting regarding bullying incident
A 10-year-old Bastrop ISD student says he's standing up to the bullies who attacked him. He and his mother reached out to FOX 7 for help, saying they are protesting outside of his school until the district stops sweeping the incident under the rug.
The incident reportedly happened on the bus. Now the 5th grader is receiving support from other Bastrop ISD parents and family members, saying he isn't the only one being bullied.
10-year-old Leonard Rodriguez has been holding a sign for eight days, with a message to his alleged bullies: they're not cool, not friendly, not respected and not welcome. This is after his mother says he was physically attacked twice on the school bus on December 4th. The incident was recorded by surveillance cameras.
"One girl leans over, grabs him by the hair, he grabs her as he's going down. As they're both down, two other girls are holding him down, face-down, defenseless, while two other boys are punching him on the back of his head. At the same time, while one is punching him, he's kicking him in the groin," says Elisa Rodriguez, parent of Leonard Rodriguez.
Rodriguez says her son Leonard was found in his room, hyperventilating and in pain. They took him to the hospital to make sure he was fine. The next day they went straight to Bastrop ISD.
"They tell me that he was the aggressor and his horse-playing led to his attack and pretty much, he gets what he got," says Rodriguez.
After feeling like they were getting nowhere, Rodriguez and her son began protesting on December 11th in front of Bastrop Intermediate. They've been there every school day since, with crowds of supporters, and will continue to do so until they say their voices are heard.
Bastrop ISD sent a statement to FOX 7 stating:
"Bullying is an important concern for Bastrop ISD and for all of us, and we take it very seriously. Our investigation of the incident you refer to has followed protocol per our district policy and has been transparent and complete. We have viewed the bus videotapes of this incident multiple times with campus and district administration, our police department, and the parents. This incident does not meet the criteria of bullying. Additionally, per the parent's request, we have had the District Attorney's Office review the tape for a legal determination on the matter, and they have concluded there is insufficient evidence to suggest a crime occurred."
We showed the statement to Rodriguez, who couldn't believe it.
"I say it's bullying but fine, if you don't want to call it bullying, at least give my son the justice of the physical attack. At least that," says Rodriguez.
Others now want to share their story. They say Leonard isn't the only one at Bastrop ISD affected by bullying.
"It's affected my family more than once and this final time, my niece has been withdrawn from school and has had to go to quite a few therapy sessions because of the bullying she's endured at Bastrop," says Kenyata Hodge-Trigg, aunt of Bastrop ISD student.
Another parent tells FOX 7 her son son had 19 incidents last year. She says it wasn't until he received a bruise that anything was done. His uncle has joined in the effort.
"I mean they're coming here to get an education and to learn, not to get in a boxing match or get picked on because of the color of their skin, or the way they look," says Bobby Machicek, uncle of Bastrop ISD student.
Rodriguez says as protesting grows, so does the fight against the district but she says the principal isn't happy.
"He goes, 'But, you do realize you're embarrassing this school?' I said, 'You should be embarrassed that my son attends your school,'" says Rodriguez.