Another family has lost their son to bullying.
Lamar Hawkins III, a 14-year-old middle school student, walked into the school bathroom of the Greenwood Lakes Middle School in Seminole County, Fla. and committed suicide on Wednesday (September 10th).
His mother, Shaniqua Hawkins, claimed it is because he was a victim of bullying in the school. According to WESH, Lamar’s growth was stunted due to health reasons, and this is what made him such an easy target.
The family originally lived in New York and had moved to Florida to escape bullying there; however, Lamar, who was nicknamed Shaq by his family for his ?large personality,? was unable to escape the abuse.
Shaniqua Hawkins in an emotional news conference:
?I felt paralyzed by the inability to make the bullying stop at school. I watched him walk out the door of our home and knew there was a very good change others would be cruel to him.??
The family had already spoke to the school about the bullying going on; however, it still continued.
?I believe he took his life at school to send a message to these bullies that they were to blame for his suffering.?
An investigation is being conducted into the claims of bullying inside the school. The Seminole County School Superintendent, Dr. Walt Griffin, has stated that they are cooperating fully with law enforcement. He also stated the county has a policy on bullying which is enforced in all schools.
This comes at a time when there is a push for Rebecca’s Law to be passed in Florida. Rebecca Sedwick was a 12-year-old girl who killed herself after being bullied over the Internet. Rebecca’s mother joined the Hawkins? family in support at the news conference. Rebecca’s law would call for harsher punishment in cases of bullying.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Lamar’s family.
Let us know your thoughts at the Liberal America Facebook page. Sign up for our free daily newsletter to receive more great stories like this one.
Liz Lee considers herself an uppity Southern woman?and hails from the swamps of South Georgia. She has all her teeth and knows how to spell fairly well. She graduated high school and has some college learnin?. She is a wife to a man that ain?t her cousin, mother of one human child, mother to one furry American Bully, and also your typical everyday Wonder Woman. When she hangs up her cape, you can find her curled up in her office sewing while gossiping, writing, playing World of Warcraft, or practicing banjo in hopes of being the greatest at pickin? and a grinnin?. You can follow her on?Facebook?to see what she is up to. She also has a?Twitter?she can’t figure out how to use and is working on a website at this time.
