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Emo Teen Uses YouTube to Fight Back Against 'Juggalo' Bully

by Terrence O'Brien on December 11, 2009 at 10:10 AM

Teen Uses YouTube To Fight Back Against Bully
The Internet and social networking may have given bullies a new venue through which to torment their targets, but what they often forget is that it has also given their victims a new avenue through which to seek recourse. Alexis Xanders realized this and took video someone had recorded of her being harassed, and ultimately punched in the face, and posted it on YouTube and CNN's iReport. The footage of the 15-year-old being stalked by group of significantly larger students drew enough attention to send a detective to young Alexis' door.

The assault on the Newark, Ohio teen took place in September, but it was only last week that she got her hands on the footage and uploaded it. But in that short time span, over 1,000 people watched the video on CNN's iReport, and almost 2,000 on YouTube. In the video (embedded after the break) you can see Alexis clearly trying to avoid conflict, and even refusing to retaliate when her attacker strikes her in the face. Worse yet, several even more cowardly teens can be heard egging her on shouting, "I want to see a fight."

Now that the footage is in the hands of authorities, Alexis' bully, Lisa, is facing charges of assault, menacing, and unlawful restraint, while those encouraging her are being actively sought by police for potential charges as well.

What prompted this physical confrontation? Alexis said she didn't like the Insane Clown Posse -- a "rap" group that we thought was forgotten about with the death of misogynistic rap metal. In fact, we're still trying to figure out how this Faygo swilling Juggalette managed to find relevance at all in almost-2010.

Much is made of cyber-bullying, but ultimately the Internet and social networks may prove to be a greater tool for the victims. By exposing bullies for what they are -- insecure miscreants too cowardly to confront their own personal faults -- tools like YouTube and Facebook could shame many of them into behaving like human beings. [From: CNN]


Tags: Bully, bullying, cnn, cyber bullying, CyberBullying, ireport, juggalo, students, top, victim, youtube

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