Eight days into the month, and I'm telling you about a 4th teen suicide that came at the hands of bullying. Fourteen year old Cameron Lee DeVeronica committed suicide 11/29/2011. Her friends say she was bullied. The police are investigating "the extent to which bullying may have played a role in Cameron's death." Really?
Meanwhile, hundreds of her schoolmates took to the streets with their own effort to end the madness and bring about change. Said one student, "...there's so much that can be done, and there's so much that could've been done previously to prevent this...and, so much more that should be done." We need more people like him, young and old, to start stepping up.
How many more young lives do we have to lose before everybody from the Highest Office on down see this for exactly what it is: an epidemic. The rollcall for this year's young lives lost to suicide is staggering. And, the year isn't over.
Kudos to the students of Spencerport High School who joined the battle cry of "enough is enough" and took to the streets. Rest when and if you need to, but never give this fight. We need more warriors like you, more voices like Jonah Mowry's, and a more concerted effort by our leaders in order to bring about the changes that will matter.
Bullying should not be punished by detention. Detention means they eventually get to go back to school. Jamie Hubley, Ben Lewis, Jacob Rogers, and now Cameron DeVeronica, amongst too many others, will never get that opportunity again. Bullying needs to be treated as the hate crime that it is.
There's been a facebook page set up in her honor. A place for remembering, and for healing. Follow the link, check it out, and "like" it. Show your continued support for this effort. Do everything you can think of doing, then do a little more. Enough really is enough.
Rest in Peace, Cameron Lee DeVeronica.
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