EDITOR’S NOTE: Some of the videos attached to this story may be disturbing to some viewers.
CHICAGO (WGN) – Parents and community members are outraged after a video went viral on social media showing a mother and her children being attacked by students Monday as they walked home from Orville Bright Elementary School on the city’s Far South Side.
Dozens of people came to the school Tuesday morning to demand accountability, with some saying they were shocked but not surprised by Monday’s incident and that the students involved should be expelled.
Corshawnda Hatter, a 33-year-old Chicago mother, and her 9-year-old son were taken to Trinity Hospital after the attack. According to Chicago police, the attack happened just after 3 p.m. in the 10600 block of South Bensley Avenue in the South Deering neighborhood.
Officials say the victims were walking on the sidewalk in the area when a group of criminals approached and hit them several times.
In a video of the incident, now seen millions of times on social media, Hatter and her two children are seen walking while a group of young students follow them and shout. The children gather around the Hat and her children, and then the two children start punching them. The Hatter was eventually thrown to the ground.
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WGN-TV is not showing the entire video because some may find it too disturbing.
“They were literally waiting for us to go home just to jump all of us,” Hatter told media and supporters gathered outside the school Tuesday morning. “So I asked my children to come with me to the other side of the street so they wouldn’t jump out.
“So we went on. They followed us all the way. . . . And then they got into a fight with my son and they beat my son first. . . . Then they dragged me in the grass and pulled my little baby’s hair.”
Hatter and her family met with school administrators Tuesday morning about the incident. Police escorted Hatter to school, surrounded by a sea of famous supporters.
State Sen. Willie Preston says he attended the meeting. Although he did not discuss the details, he says the family that was attacked is traumatized.
“We’ve written every anti-bullying policy in the book. We’ve legislated it, but if it doesn’t work, we have to adopt something stronger,” he said.
Hatter said this isn’t the first time her child has been bullied at school, but she hopes it won’t be the last.
“I’m trying to do justice to my son,” she said.
To which one supporter replied: “And you deserve it.”
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And Hatter isn’t the only parent at Orville Bright Elementary School fighting for his child. Those who stood outside the school Tuesday say some students are terrorizing the community.
“This happens all the time in this community and parents don’t take responsibility for what their kids do,” said one parent. “If my kids were out of order, I’m going to come out here and report it. I’m going to shut it down.”
WGN-TV reached out to Chicago Public Schools for comment and received the following response:
“Chicago Public Schools (CPS) prioritizes the safety and well-being of our students, staff and families, and we are committed to creating a physically and emotionally safe teaching and learning environment in every school.”
We are appalled by the attack on this family and are working with city departments and agencies to provide support to the victims of the attack. CPS works closely with the Office of the Mayor, CPD, CHA and other city departments to provide additional support to the family.
School administrators, teachers, and support staff work with students to create an open environment where conflicts and grievances can be resolved. School leaders work with parents and all parties involved to find a solution in line with the Pupil Code of Conduct (SCC) when dealing with any confirmed offences. In addition, we always aim for all members of our school community, including staff, students and parents, to actively work together to maintain a safe and calm environment in our schools.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson responded to the video on social media platform X, saying:
“I was very disturbed when I saw a video yesterday afternoon of young people attacking a mother and her child in the Far South. This kind of behavior is unacceptable in our city and we must not normalize such senseless violence. My office managers were on site throughout the day to coordinate with CPS, CPD and CHA to respond to this incident. CPD has committed additional resources to ensure public safety and we are working with CHA on additional measures to support the family. We also mobilized the support of community organizations that focus on youth services and violence prevention to ensure a safe passage for students and families at this school. I will continue to monitor this situation closely as I receive news and the investigation begins.
It is critical that our public education system be adequately resourced to have counselors and mental health professionals in every school community. We must redouble our efforts to teach our young people that violence is never an acceptable response. Our students and families should always feel safe on their way to and from school, and we need to make the necessary investments to make that a reality in every part of our city. I am grateful to the community that came together to support the family, and I urge you to remain calm as we conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that the attackers are held accountable and the victims are healed.“
At this time, police say it is unclear what led to Monday’s attack, and officials say no arrests have been made. Police will continue to work around the school for the rest of the week.
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