A New Jersey high school student has been arrested after a videotaped fight appeared to show her ripping off her classmate's hijab ...
A New Jersey high school student has been arrested after a videotaped fight appeared to show her ripping off her classmate's hijab while allegedly yelling racist slurs.
Shocking footage filmed Wednesday and posted to social media showed the two girls brawling over a seat in a common area on campus, according to the school's superintendent.
It shows one East Brunswick High School student apparently punching a girl on the floor while a staff member pulls them apart. Neither girl has been named as they are both under age.
One witness told CBS New York: 'I witnessed a Muslim girl on the floor and she was being senselessly beaten by other girl.
The East Brunswick Public Schools Superintendent said one of the girls pulled off the other girl’s hijab and started screaming racist slurs at her, News 4 reports.
In a letter to parents Victor Valeski wrote: 'Ultimately, the fight was determined to be a bias incident and was immediately reported to the East Brunswick Police Department and the County Prosecutor’s Office in accordance with Board Police and the law.
'The East Brunswick Public School District values our diverse student body and community. The District does not tolerate any incidents of bias, discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying and takes swift action if such an event occurs.'
But the accused teen's grandfather told Pix11 the fight was not racially motivated.
The man, who did not want to be named, said: 'She does have a temper and doesn’t know how to express herself at times, but she’s a good kid.
'She’s been brought up good, she's not racist most of her friends will tell you she’s not racist.'
He says they are now receiving 'threatening' text messages.
Middlesex County prosecutors said the student who is accused of pulling off her classmate's hijab has been charged with simple assault, harassment, cyber harassment and disorderly conduct.
The Muslim girl has also been suspended under the school's zero-tolerance policy after the fight was broken up by a school security officer.
But some students and parents have questioned why she was suspended for 'defending herself'.
The boy who filmed the fight was also suspended. He told News 4: 'I got in trouble for it because I guess it's against the school rules, but at the end of the day I did the right thing.'
Mayor Brad Cohen told mycentraljersey.com: 'The Muslim woman and her family have been seen and offered any help needed from the school psychologists and support staff.
'I am also aware that the perpetrator posted an inflammatory statement on Snapchat, which has also been shared through social media.
'Let me be very clear in that I stand with our Muslim friends and neighbors in condemning this entire incident.'
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