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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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11

Kids Attack Redheads on 'Kick a Ginger' Day

Facebook group, inspired by 'South Park,' told teens to kick peers

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(Newser) – Inspired by a Facebook page, kids in Vancouver spent a day kicking and punching redheads for fun, the Vancouver Sun reports. Trouble is, being hit hurts. "I was amazed by the amount of people that kicked me," said 13-year-old Aaron Mishkin, who figures he was assaulted about 80 times. An online group promoting "Kick a Ginger" day started it all.

The group's 14-year-old creator, who based the page on a South Park episode, apologized and said it was intended as a joke. But after students went home with injuries and 20 kids were suspended at one middle school, the RCMP is investigating the group, saying it may have spurred a hate crime. "It's really unprecedented," one cyber-bullying expert said.

In schools across Canada, redheaded kids found themselves the victims of a campaign of kicking that some law enforcement officials are calling a possible hate crime.
In schools across Canada, redheaded kids found themselves the victims of a campaign of kicking that some law enforcement officials are calling a possible hate crime.   (Flickr)
The Facebook group encouraging students to kick redheads may have been inspired by an episode of
The Facebook group encouraging students to kick redheads may have been inspired by an episode of "South Park."   (Flickr)
Targeted kids expressed surprise and outrage at finding themselves the victims of their classmates' leg-swinging campaign.
Targeted kids expressed surprise and outrage at finding themselves the victims of their classmates' leg-swinging campaign.   (Flickr)
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I left the class, and we have seven minutes to get to the next class, and I was amazed by the amount of people that kicked me along the way. - Aaron Mishkin, a 13-year-old with curly red hair, who came to school unsuspecting

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11 comments
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morenogabr
Nov 23, 08 6:07 PM CST
FB needs to go back to college only Reply
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Mr.C
Nov 23, 08 8:36 PM CST
This is both sad and hilarious. Suppose that group balances out a Redhead lovers group that I may belong to. Someone needs to start hug a ginger day. Reply
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0
petepenguin
Nov 23, 08 8:57 PM CST
Those wacky Canadiens,always up for a good joke. Reply
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Shannonals
Nov 23, 08 10:04 PM CST
Beware of Gingers Reply
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Reader25229471
Nov 24, 08 3:47 AM CST
If this was kick a Jew , a Mick, A Black , a Gay Day well then boy there would be an uproar. Yet this seems to be some stupid kid using carpman and gang as role models. I am always impressed with the term expert. Cyber bulying expert, that covers every geek . I notice 2 things he didn't start kick a 14 year old day and the kids went along to victimize someone not like them, oh 1 more I bet the 6'2'' Football star didn't get kicked, this was another excuse to prey on others who can't fight back. The best punishment would be community service helping others for a day. Reply
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