Deaf Student Alex Hernandez from Omaha, Nebraska Speaks Out After Bullies Dump Backpack Into Toilet; GoFundMe Page Started
Alex Hernandez is taking a stand for himself and everyone else. Video surveillance of the deaf Nebraska student being bullied by his classmates recently went viral, including footage of all his belongings after they were dumped into a toilet.
"Those students think it's OK to bully a deaf student, but it's not," said Hernandez. "It's not OK to bully someone who is disabled, deaf or hard of hearing. Or anyone for that matter."
Two Students Captured on Video
Burke High School footage captures two students walking away with all of Hernandez's possessions, among them his tablet computer, debit card and the cochlear implant he needs to be able to hear.
The boy quickly reported his belongings missing and they were later discovered in the school's bathroom, stuffed in the toilet.
"I actually saw it on Facebook, and it just absolutely sickened me," said fellow student Devon Fuller. "I can't believe people at school would actually do that kind of thing."
GoFundMe Page Started to Replace Items
Students and the community have now started a GoFundMe page to help Hernandez raise the money needed to replace all the items. The page reached its stated fund-raising goal of $800 within four days.
Meanwhile, Hernandez, who has been deaf since he was just a year old, is sharing the sad tale of having now been bullied for years. He added that he no longer feels safe at the campus and is considering transferring to a different school.
Two males have been identified as the culprits in the backpack episode. According to Hernandez's mom one of them has already been suspended and the other is still being investigated. Both maintain they didn't know Hernandez was deaf.
While Alex claims he doesn't know either of the boys, he insists he would now like to meet and speak with them.
"I just want to talk to them; I don't want to fight them," he said. "I want to talk it out. And talk to their parents about them so they can tell them they need to teach them the right thing to do."
Omaha Public Schools released a statement indicating they take such situations quite seriously and stressing the act was an isolated incident.
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