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William769

(59,147 posts) Mon Feb 10, 2014, 02:21 PM Feb 2014

176

WATCH: Teen Suspended for Defending Bullied Gay Classmate UPDATE [View all]

Last edited Mon Feb 10, 2014, 08:12 PM - Edit history (1)

A Florida high schooler was suspended for 10 days after a lunchroom fight in which he reportedly stepped in to defend a gay student from a bully.

Mark Betterson, a senior at East Lee County High School in Lehigh Acres, Fla., told WFTX TV that he got involved in the fray after James Griffin, 18, threw milk in a gay student's face, called him a gay slur, and began beating him.

The victim, 18-year-old Jonathan Colon, suffered bruises to the head, but Betterson believes his intervention prevented more serious injuries to Colon. According to the report, Griffin began attacking Betterson after he jumped in to defend Colon.

"It’s not fair for somebody to get beat up for something that he is," Betterson told WFTX. "I’m not going to sit there and watch someone get bullied if I used to get bullied too."

http://www.advocate.com/youth/2014/02/10/watch-teen-suspended-defending-bullied-gay-classmate

I live in this County and if I ever get the chance to run into Mark Betterson I would like to buy him lunch & ask him how I can help him with his education of higher learning after graduation.

To you Mark Betterson.

UPDATE: Suspension has been thrown out for Mark Betterson and the bully arrested.
http://www.nbc-2.com/story/24684359/defending-student-not-expelled-for-fight-at-east-lee-county-high#.Uvl3PmeYY5s

59 replies

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Highlight:

WATCH: Teen Suspended for Defending Bullied Gay Classmate ****UPDATE**** [View all] William769 Feb 2014 OP

Good for him! cyberswede Feb 2014 #1

All violence is bad and it can never be justified... Lost_Count Feb 2014 #2

Even if you just take the beating, and don't defend yourself, you can still be punished... Humanist_Activist Feb 2014 #4

... William769 Feb 2014 #6

Having been bullied by kids all throughout middle and high schools, I'm particularly... Humanist_Activist Feb 2014 #15

So we should sit on our hands... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2014 #16

Don't confuse current policy with my belief... Lost_Count Feb 2014 #22

I read this... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2014 #24

Discovering that is what we've taken from kids... Lost_Count Feb 2014 #28

+1 rtassi Feb 2014 #50

Good for him! Vinnie From Indy Feb 2014 #3

Good. I'd be proud if he was my kid LittleBlue Feb 2014 #5

Agreed. William769 Feb 2014 #7

Cool! My parents used to live in Lehigh Acres. Proud of that student. Pretzel_Warrior Feb 2014 #8

Kick! sheshe2 Feb 2014 #9

Good Person Gothmog Feb 2014 #10

A kid with honor. proudretiredvet Feb 2014 #11

Wow, Betterson is a hero, they should have a school holiday in his honor. Bluenorthwest Feb 2014 #12

Ship this straight to Ellen DeGeneres... ReRe Feb 2014 #13

Cheers to you Mark Betterson! MysticHuman Feb 2014 #14

K&R... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2014 #17

Violence begets violence. Orsino Feb 2014 #18

Fuck the school...a hero stepped up and did the right thing. Rex Feb 2014 #19

Let no good deed go unpunished. lpbk2713 Feb 2014 #20

Hope Griffin got suspended too treestar Feb 2014 #21

According to the update the bully was arrested for battery. groundloop Feb 2014 #53

Good news treestar Feb 2014 #56

Zero thinking policy strikes again sarisataka Feb 2014 #23

He got in a fight at school. He got suspended. Them's the rules. Iggo Feb 2014 #25

Some would say he got suspended for attempting to break up a fight... ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #30

He could have blocked with his face I suppose... Lost_Count Feb 2014 #32

It looks like that is what happened. He tried to break up the attack (I won't even really call it a ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #33

My sister got suspended for hitting the guy who was harassing her in the face, once. LeftyMom Feb 2014 #45

K&R! n/t RKP5637 Feb 2014 #26

Good for Mark Betterson! Cha Feb 2014 #27

Proud of Mark Betterson - TBF Feb 2014 #29

Can Stand Your Ground Be Used Against Bullies Wolf Frankula Feb 2014 #31

Kicking for update. William769 Feb 2014 #34

K & R for bully getting arrested. Hear that Chris Christie???? nt okaawhatever Feb 2014 #35

Awesome warrior1 Feb 2014 #36

The aptly named Warren DeMontague Feb 2014 #37

in 5th grade my kid took on the school bully on the playground dembotoz Feb 2014 #38

Now that is an AWESOME update!!! Behind the Aegis Feb 2014 #39

Suspension thrown out for Mark Betterson and the bully has been arrested! countryjake Feb 2014 #40

K&R Sissyk Feb 2014 #41

Thanks for the update. nt awoke_in_2003 Feb 2014 #42

Mark Betterson is a hero. LeftyMom Feb 2014 #43

Good kid! Spirochete Feb 2014 #44

Congrats to the young Mr. Betterson, with thanks. flvegan Feb 2014 #46

Recommended. (nt) NYC_SKP Feb 2014 #47

Good to hear that update Pretzel_Warrior Feb 2014 #48

Huzzuh! sakabatou Feb 2014 #49

Zero Tolerance should be renamed; SamKnause Feb 2014 #51

I love that update! NealK Feb 2014 #52

Battery charges for the bigot. crim son Feb 2014 #54

Warms my heart. myrna minx Feb 2014 #55

Way to go, Mark! They_Live Feb 2014 #57

Betterson ProgressiveJarhead Feb 2014 #58

Here is the thing. Schools will continue to hide behind zero policies nadinbrzezinski Feb 2014 #59