Internet raise over $300,000 for bus monitor bully victim

[Reece]

----> VIDEO HERE <----

A video of a 68-year-old school bus monitor mercilessly taunted by seventh graders became an international online rallying point against bullies Thursday, with funds for the Rochester, N.Y., grandmother rapidly increasing hundreds of thousands of dollars and a deluge of people demanding harsh punishment for the boys. Police said Karen Klein does not want her young tormenters to face criminal charges, partly because of the storm of criticism leveled at the boys from the Rochester suburb of Greece after the video went viral. Bullied school bus monitor finds online support "Theyve received death threats," Greece Police Capt. Steve Chatterton said Thursday. "Their families have been threatened. We have custody of one of their cellphones, and he had over 1,000 missed calls and 1,000 text messages threatening him. And he's 13 years old. That must stop." he verbal abuse was captured in a 10-minute cellphone video recorded Monday by a student of Athena Middle School in suburban Rochester and later posted to YouTube. The video shows Klein trying her best to ignore the stream of profanity, insults and outright threats directed at her. One student taunted: "You don't have a family because they all killed themselves because they don't want to be near you." Karen Kleins oldest son killed himself 10 years ago. Eventually, she appears to break down in tears. Klein's son, Brian, told CBS News affiliate WIVB he was "overwhelmed" by the vicious incident, but he hopes to send positive energy to all the supporters who donated money and sent his mother heartfelt messages. "One thing I would really hope that would come out of this is maybe these kids would start learning to behave and respect their elders," Brian Klein said. "You want to jump into that bus and you want to grab those kids and say Knock it off! And you want to hold her," said Amy Weber, a 43-year-old independent filmmaker from the Detroit area who pledged $100 Thursday through the international crowd-funding site Indiegogo.com. "I think we hear about bullying every day and we become a little desensitized to it. This puts it in our face" said Weber, who is making a feature film about a bully. Klein told NBC's "Today" show Thursday that it took "a lot of willpower" not to respond to the jeers from the four boys riding the bus operated by the Greece Central School District. Klein said she was "amazed" at the support she received. "I've got these nice letters, emails, Facebook messages," she said. "It's like, wow, there's a whole world out there that I didn't know. It's really awesome." She said she hopes the parents will talk to their children about being "a little more respectful." Klein did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment. The video logged more than 2 million views by Thursday afternoon, breaking hearts and raising passions of people who recalled bullying incidents in their own pasts. The fundraiser set up on Indiegogo.com shattered its goal of raising $5,000 to send the grandmother of eight on a "vacation of a lifetime." More than 15,000 people donated, many in denominations of $20 or less. Funds for Klein rapidly increased throughout Thursday, with over $12,000 raised between 4:00 and 5:00 pm ET alone. By late afternoon, the Indiegogo.com fundraiser had over $316,000 in donations and counting. "I don't see how anyone can watch that and not be touched by it. It made me realize and I posted on my Facebook wall that sticks and stones may break my bones but words will still hurt you no matter how old you are," said Deana Rock, a 42-year-old marketing professional from Williston, Vt., who pledged $30. Rock said she was moved to tears by the video and donated the money so Klein would not have to get back on the bus. Police in the suburb of Greece had to step up patrols near the houses of the four boys and said they had received several threatening hoax calls from people. The boys had not yet apologized to Klein as of Thursday afternoon, though police said they regretted their acts and their parents are cooperating. The district apologized to Klein and will pursue disciplinary actions against all four students. The swell of support for Klein follows a recent surge in awareness of bullying that has brought the issue from the classroom to the stage and screen to the White House.

These kids are vile and disgusting, this video makes me really angry that kids in this world can act like that. Any way, amazing how the internet has raised over 300K for her. It's also disturbing how they said her children should commit suicide, when her son has...

[SafetyMoose]

"Americans"

[Squeak]

I honestly have no idea why they weren't kicked off the bus the first time they cussed, she practically knelt down and took their barrage of insults. I honestly don't know why people are giving her money for sitting down and getting her shit verbally slapped around by some punks.
Post Merge: June 22, 2012, 03:52:02 am

[Rick.]

"Americans"

"Canadians"

[Aksel]

North Americans in a nutshell

[Hevar.]

Making The Bus Monitor Cry]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l93wAqnPQwk&feature=player_embedded#]Making The Bus Monitor Cry

This one? This is just sad, i hope someone can beat up those kids.

[Goodandy.]

My god! That is absurd and terrible! Jesus, people like this exist?!

[SafetyMoose]

"Canadians"

>implying this shit happens in Canada

nope

[Dolfagr]

Wow I didn't know we colonize US :cool:

[Clone]

What those kids did to her is disgusting, and I hope they get what they deserve.

However, her charity page has just hit $500,000. I mean, of course she deserves a break. The initial goal of the page was $5000. But half a million dollars? Really? Harassment like this happens all over the world, sometimes even to bigger extents, but should the victims become rich because of it? I don't think so.

[Ratko Gavrilovic]

Is this in Greece or America? I'm confused now.
Anyway those kids shouldn't be charged or anything, just kicked the shit out of until near death.

[SafetyMoose]

Is this in Greece or America? I'm confused now.
Anyway those kids shouldn't be charged or anything, just kicked the shit out of until near death.

Was going to post something then noticed your flag.

[Alsatian]

Some of the things the kids came out with is absolutely disgusting. The bit towards the end about her family killing themselves... from a group of kids. I just couldn't believe it.

Scary to think that kids are being brought up like this in certain parts of the world. Parenting, non-existant; the phrase "respect your elders", completely forgotten.

Is this in Greece or America? I'm confused now.
Anyway those kids shouldn't be charged or anything, just kicked the shit out of until near death.

Yeah man, beat up a group of kids to the point in which they're nearly dead. That's setting the right fucking example.

[Ratko Gavrilovic]

Yeah man, beat up a group of kids to the point in which they're nearly dead. That's setting the right f**king example.

Apparently words don't change people anymore.

[SafetyMoose]

Apparently words don't change people anymore.

I hope your not trying to imply violence is going to solve the problem of violence