Community members gather to help stop bullying

MARTINSBURG - Martinsburg mother Sharon Santamaria is on a mission - and that mission gained support Saturday when community members and local government officials gathered at 365 Church to take a stand against bullying.

"I was always taught never to start trouble, but when it comes knocking, answer the door," she said.

In response to alleged verbal, physical and cyber attacks on her daughter and daughter's friend by their peers, Santamaria organized a rally that garnered approximately 200 participants including Del. Larry Faircloth, Del.-Elect Michael Folk and Governor's office Regional Representative Lynn Phillips.

Article Photos

Journal photo by Holly Shok
Sharon Santamaria, whose daughter was the victim of alleged bullying attacks, organized a rally, hosted at 365 Church Saturday, to solicit community support against bullying.

"I told the officer that night that this whole community will know who I am before this is said and done, and I think I've succeeded in that," Santamaria said.

According to Faircloth, the West Virginia law that dictates bullying is a crime - Senate Bill 104 - lacks clarity on what specific punishments will be administered on specific acts of bullying.

During the rally, Faircloth cited the state's cell phone ban, which mandates cell phone use is prohibited while operating a vehicle. The law, he said, is clear on each and every consequence for using a cell phone while behind the wheel. Faircloth said Senate Bill 104 needs to be just as concise.

"The hopes of what we need to do are basically enhance the law to where it works better for the people, bridges the communication between parents, administrators and law enforcement, and put something into play that is working for the community and will ultimately cut down the bullying," Faircloth said in an interview before the rally.

Faircloth said he will personally sponsor or co-sponsor the move to amend Senate Bill 104.

"During my campaign, one of the four platforms I stood on was school bullying. I felt it a passion. Having children of my own, I heard the stories from them from the schools of who was doing what and I followed that," he said. "There was no accountability from what I was seeing."

Faircloth was hopeful that the day would serve to create both public awareness and legislative pressure in Charleston.

"We are not attacking the board of education. We are not attacking the administrators. We are not doing that," Faircloth said. "We are just trying to create a bridge that helps everybody. By strengthening the administration, that will do such."

Santamaria said she organized the rally to solicit community support after encountering numerous obstacles in bringing the issue to public attention, as those involved in the attack on her daughter are protected by their juvenile status.

"If bullying is going to be on a criminal level, these kids need to have accountability," Santamaria said in an interview before the event. "They have the mentality that 'I'm underage and no one can touch me,' and we need to change that."

"Whenever there is an incident like this, whether in or out of schools, there needs to be mandated counseling and anger management for these kids at the expense of their parents," Santamaria said addressing the rally. "There needs to be consequences at home as well. Kids are a product of their environment. These kids are not born with this behavior, it is learned."

There were various musical performances throughout the rally, and Phillips spoke on behalf of Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin in support of the day's message.

The rally's proceeds - from raffles, a bake sale and donations - will benefit the "Shine the Light" foundation in memory of Hedgesville Middle School student Abigail "Abby" Knorr who, at 13, took her own life March 13, 2011. Erik Gessel, executive administrator of Berkeley Family Medicine and a family member of Knorr's, spoke on his experience as a three-time suicide survivor.

"Be compassionate towards each other. You have no idea what some kids are dealing with outside of school. Choose to be a friend, not a bully," Santamaria told students in attendance. "Stand up for what's right, stand up for what you believe in and most importantly, stand up for yourself, even if it's rough and you're standing alone, keep standing up."

Santamaria said she chose the "Shine the Light" foundation after learning of Knorr's story and relating it to her own daughter's experience being bullied.

"To watch your child go through this kind of hurt is indescribable," Santamaria said. "For days, even weeks afterwards, every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was my child laying there defenseless being kicked and beaten on like an animal. And all I could do was cry, but that is nothing compared to the fear and pain that these two young girls must have experienced that day."

Santamaria said the challenges she has faced in shedding light on her daughter's experience have only fueled her drive to take a stand against bullying.

"I have been criticized and told I am just trying to get attention and they are absolutely correct, not to me personally but to the fact that bullying is rising in this community. We need to stand up against this and be heard," Santamaria said. "It has been stated that I am taking this too far and I beg to differ. Because when it comes to defending and protecting our youth, there is no such thing as too far."

Santamaria said she will continue to raise awareness on the issue.

"One thing I want to teach everybody, especially the kids, is stand up for what's right, for what you believe in and, most importantly, stand up for yourself," she said.

- Staff writer Holly Shok can be reached at 304-263-3381, ext. 131, or hshok@journal-news.net.

Source: http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/587276.html

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