N.C. high school students protest after student suspended for reporting sexual assault

carleyshaffer1November 4, 2021

A picture taken on March 13, 2020 shows an empty corridor at a high school. (Photo by JENS SCHLUETER/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 5:24 PM PT – Thursday, November 4, 2021

Students at a North Carolina high school walked out of class after a teenage girl was suspended for reporting a sexual assault.

On Wednesday, more than 100 students at Hawthorne Academy High School protested outside the building following the suspension of a 15-year-old girl who has remained anonymous. The 15-year-old reportedly notified school officials she was being sexually assaulted by another male student, where she was then accused of filing a false report and later suspended.

“The school did their investigation, gave me a phone call and said ‘hey, look, unfortunately it looks like there’s no evidence that shows that what your daughter’s saying took place, did. We’re going to have to give her a day of suspension’.”

The girl’s mother said she then went to the principal and said “the police are telling me that he did do these things, he admitted to them, and that I have the right to press charges…you’re telling me this didn’t happen?”

Many students are calling it victim-blaming as others applauded in support of the girl and in protest of the school’s handing of reported sexual violence. Meanwhile, local police reportedly investigated and pressed charges against the male minor for sexual battery despite school administrator’s failing to take action.

Happening now: students at Hawthorne Academy HS are out of class in a “town hall” to voice concerns after a student was suspended for reporting a sexual assault. (Story https://t.co/iuOPh3lXFy)

School announced the “town hall” after students planned to walk out this morning pic.twitter.com/Y99tvqpOUE

— Nick Ochsner (@NickOchsnerWBTV) November 3, 2021