Did the punishment fit the crime?
A Huntington Beach, California high school student attacked a blind student as others stood around with their phones out to film the violent bullying. Another student jumped in and threw one punch at the bully, knocking him to the ground and then turned to the
bully's friends:
And then he yells at the alleged attacker’s friends, “He’s punching a [expletive] blind kid, bro!”
As he walks away holding the victim, the hero turns one final time and says, “I swear to God, if you [expletive, expletive] with this kid again, I will [expletive] you up!”
Watch the brief video of Cody Pines breaking up the fight:
The bully was arrested for misdemeanor battery and released to his parents. Police said they do not intend to charge the teen who intervened. His fellow classmates are calling him a hero, but school officials felt otherwise—reportedly suspending him from school and kicking him off the football team for breaking the school's no violence policy.
Students, parents and community members are rallying around the student, asking school administrators to reconsider the punishment:
A petition to get him reinstated on the team has now been launched online, which stands by the high school student's actions.
The campaign's website states: 'We believe (the teenager) should be back on his football team and back in school where he belongs. While violence is never the best option what Cody did to defend his friend and classmate was justified.
The petition already has
30,000 signatures.
School administrators are in a tough position, but is the "zero tolerance" approach in this case worth Cody Pine getting suspended and kicked off the football team? Is that really best for the student body as a whole?
12:08 PM PT: Daily Kos reader Element 61 points out (in the comments below) the "bully's" response on Twitter, claiming he was defending himself and didn't initiate the fight.
Mon Sep 28, 2015 at 7:25 AM PT: Huntington High School is denying he was kicked off the football team and they appear to be backtracking on the suspension:
Earlier reports by Cody's supporters indicated that he was removed from the high school’s football team.
But the Huntington Beach Union High School District says the Cody was never removed from the team because he hasn’t played since last spring.
Cody will not be suspended for stepping in to help the student, the district said.