A group of students allegedly assaulted a transgender teen after a basketball game between North Attleboro and Foxboro high schools. (YouTube/CBS Boston)
Massachusetts police are investigating after a trans student was attacked after a high school basketball game.
The teen – who attends North Attleboro High School in North Attleborough, Massachusetts – was allegedly assaulted after a basketball game between North Attleboro and Foxboro on Tuesday (8 February), WBZ 4 CBS Boston reported.
According to the outlet, there was a verbal altercation during the game between students. The argument later continued in the high school parking lot, where it turned physical.
It was reported that a group of Foxboro students assaulted the North Attleboro student and called her hateful slurs relating to her trans identity.
WBZ 4 CBS Boston spoke to the trans girl’s mother who confirmed that her daughter is doing okay physically, but she said that the family doesn’t wish to come forward as the police investigation is ongoing.
The mother also hoped that her daughter’s experience could teach others about hate.
Aiden Moebius, a junior at North Attleboro, told the news outlet that the violent attack was “pretty upsetting” for the local LGBT+ community.
“It was just really upsetting for the LGBTQ community,” Moebius said. “A lot of people were upset about it, and it just felt very shallow for Foxboro.”
Moebius said the principal of North Attleboro High School did speak to students about the attack on Thursday (10 February). He added that he was “glad we are having that kind of conversation” openly because “people don’t really talk about that kind of stuff very often”.
The superintendents of both schools condemned the anti-trans attack in public statements.
John Antonucci, superintendent of North Attleborough Public Schools, described the attack as a “deeply upsetting and disturbing incident” that “in no way reflects the values of principles” of the schools.
“We strive to provide a welcoming, supportive and above all safe learning environment for all, and denounce all acts of hate and violence,” Antonucci said.
Foxborough Public Schools superintendent Amy Berdos echoed this sentiment by saying the incident is “contrary to everything that the Foxboro Schools teach and believe in”.
“Acts of hate and discrimination have no place in our community,” Berdos said.