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Kids Attack Redheads on 'Kick a Ginger' Day

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

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 23, 2008 4:31 PM CST

(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.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

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 "South Park." (Flickr)

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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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 16 comments

Ryan Larson

Oct 27, 2010 7:57 PM CDT

You don't need to focus on censoring every form of media that a child views. You should focus on teaching your child wrong from right. Real from fake. Our children are at a disadvantage because we raise them to fear things. whether that fear stems from your god's punishment. eternal damnation for making one false move. The theoretical purpose of this country is freedom. Freedom of expression freedom to be you. from day one when you are born you are held on a platform above every being on this earth. no human is special from any other. It's easy to point the blame at any sort of explicit media. I point the blame at the people who instead of allowing their child to learn and teaching them, they close their childrens eyes to the truth of the world. Kids lives are enveloped in media these days. Closing your eyes doesn't make the world disappear, it only lets the problems fester until it reaches a point where everything falls apart.

Jamie Galloway

Oct 19, 2010 4:55 PM CDT

I had no idea such a day existed until my 14 year old redheaded son came home from school with bruises up and down his legs. I have taken pictures. The school has security videos. We ARE involving the police. This is BULLYING, and NOT funny at all.

Guest

Nov 24, 2009 7:49 PM CST

us day walkers must live in fear now

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Canada.com (Source Grid »)

Group attracted 5000 members
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Police taking this seriously
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Students suspended for kicking
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Toronto kids kept feet to themselves
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Facebook • redhead • hate crime • South Park

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Kids Attack Redheads on 'Kick a Ginger' Day