STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – A student accused of marking a fellow student with racist statement claims he only did so because of a dare.
A 15-year-old white student at St. Peter’s Boys High School, whose name was not released because he is a minor, faces charges as a juvenile of second-degree aggravated harassment as a hate crime, which is a felony.
The incident occurred Nov. 5 while the students were taking a test. After 15-year-old Harold Gibson, who is black, completed his test early, he placed his head on his desk to rest. According to authorities, the offender told them that he was provoked to write “KKK 4 life” on Gibson’s leg and “KKK”-the acronym for the Ku Klux Klan-on his sweater with chalk.
Gibson did not notice the writing, however, when he arrived home, his mother found the writing.
On Nov. 6, Gibson’s mother told Principal John Fodera, who she stated tried to “mediate” the situation; however, she filed a police report anyway.
The suspect has been suspended from school, and school officials will determine the disciplinary action he will meet.
The two teens were said to be friends before the episode occurred.