A purported transgender student apparently attacked a female student in an incident caught on camera and widely shared on social media, and the school district is now defending their safety policy.
The video, which has amassed million of views online, shows an altercation that took place at Hazlebrook Middle School in the Tigard-Tualatin School District in Oregon. While the school has neither confirmed nor denied the alleged transgender identity of the attacker, the district has since released a statement defending their safety policy and saying people were using the incident to focus on sexual identity.
“An incident of violence against a student at Hazelbrook Middle School last week was recorded by students and has since been shared broadly on social media,” the statement read. “This traumatic act was swiftly investigated by school administrators and turned over to law enforcement. The situation is now considered a criminal investigation.”
“The TTSD Board of Directors stands firm in our practice of holding those who commit acts of violence accountable as guided by Board policy. We are also united in upholding an educational environment that fosters inclusivity, diversity, and respect. We will not be distracted from our responsibilities of governing this vibrant school system by any form of harassment or bias,” the statement continued.
The school noted in the release that since the incident involved minors, no details of the criminal investigation would be released.
Trans male attacks female student in Oregon high school. This was certainly planned given multiple people were filming. All involved should be suspended and he should be charged with assault as a male
Identify as you wish, but you can’t hide from your innate sex characteristics pic.twitter.com/Ov1CQ4ZycY
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) September 28, 2023
“Students and adults contributed to the sharing of this recording that exposed minors who were directly and indirectly involved without consent,” the statement continued. “In addition, the sharing of this incident has spread across the country and beyond, inspiring false information and a focus and discourse on sexual identity. These acts have contributed to the trauma individuals and families are already experiencing.”
Video of the incident shows one student apparently pulling another student to the ground from behind and proceeding to apparently pull her by the hair and apparently pound her in the head. The victimized student then approaches someone close to the camera and cries, “I can’t breath, I can’t breath.”