An Oregon school said it cannot comment on whether or not a middle school student caught on video violently attacking a female classmate is transgender after the viral clip sparked outrage on social media.
The brutal beatdown unfolded recently in-between periods Hazelbrook Middle School in Tualatin, a suburb southwest of Portland, as dozens of students stood idly by and filmed, OregonLive reported.
Video of the incident shows students walking to their classes in the hallway when suddenly a student with a green and black coat, white tank top, long hair and glasses jumps out and snatches a female student by her backpack.
The bully yanks the victim backwards, forcing her head to slam into her backpack when she hit the ground, according to the video, which was shared on Twitter by Riley Gaines — a former collegiate swimmer and outspoken activist against allowing trans athletes in women’s sports.
The attacker then whacks the student in the head, twists her around by her hair and continues hitting the girl as she screams “Ow!” helplessly on the ground.
“Talk sh-t again b—h!” the assailant screams at the girl.
The victim, sobbing, picks herself up slowly, and says, “I’m sorry, I didn’t do anything.”
“I can’t breathe,” she tells other students.
School officials told OregonLive that the incident is now under criminal investigation.
The bully was arrested and is facing assault charges, district officials confirmed. The case has been referred to the Washington County Juvenile Department.
Social media users jumped on the attacker’s clothing in the video and concluded — without any confirmation — that the student is transgender.
The school district said that per federal privacy laws it cannot comment on a student’s gender identity, district spokesperson Traci Rose told the outlet.
The district’s board of education released a statement blasting those who are sharing video of the incident online, which has been viewed more than 10.5 million times and prompted a storm of hateful comments on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Students and adults contributed to the sharing of this recording that exposed minors who were directly and indirectly involved without consent,” board members said in the statement.
“In addition, the sharing of this incident has spread across the country and beyond, inspiring false information and a focus and discourse on sexual identity,” the board continued. These acts have contributed to the trauma individuals and families are already experiencing.”
Tigard-Tualatin Superintendent Sue Rieke Smith defended the school’s discipline policies, which emphasize student growth and recovery, against parents demanding it switch to a stricter “zero tolerance” policy.
“The research is clear. Zero tolerance has not worked and it exacerbates the potential for school violence,” she said at a open forum this week. “What is more important is that there is a consequence that is meted out and there are supports that are wrapped around that student.”
