Viral school bus bullying video sparks community support for self -defense classes

Plantation, Fla. -A disturbing video shows how a student of the middle school who is smart and beaten in a school bus triggers outrage and action.

The ambush occurred in a school bus in Broward County, where the Driftwood Middle School remained in the city of Hollywood. The bus driver started in Davie and called the police.

Empty Español

School officials called it “bullying”, but the victim's family says it is something much more serious.

“He must have realigned his nose,” said the family lawyer of the family, Maribel Piza. “He has difficulty breathing on one side.”

A Gofundme page was created for the boy's medical editions. News flocked by the spectators that wanted to help the student with self -defense courses, which he has now taken up.

The boy arrived from Guatemala and recently started in Driftwood Middle. He still learns English and said he didn't understand what the children shouted at home in the bus ride before the ambush.

“I looked at the mother and the child and thought:” He is a sweet boy. A very nice child. Very mild and respectful, “said John Wai, owner of John Wai Martial Arts in plantation.

How many, viral history and stretched out the hand. He and coach David Camacho, himself a professional fighter, offered the students' self -defense courses and a safe space to build up community and self -confidence.

“I could say that he was very shy,” said Camacho. “Not only with this experience he has had, but also to be an immigrant. I grew up in a family background in which my mother and the majority of my family – we are immigrants – and it is very difficult to get to a country where you don't speak the language.”

The student we do not call took part in his first martial arts course on Monday and Tuesday.

Wai and his team said that the entire bus should participate, learn discipline, respect, empathy and to build their security and self -confidence.

“Many of the times bring parents with them so that they can learn self -defense, but what their children need is a positive environment that enables them to feel comfortable in their own skin,” said Camacho. “To feel authentic. For the parents of these bullies, they bring them to an academy that make them feel comfortable in their own skin and feel authentic.”