Two American-Senegalese boys beaten and called ‘Ebola’ by gang of New York schoolchildren
The attack on the brothers has been condemned as a ‘hate crime’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Two brothers were sent to hospital after they were attacked by a gang of 15 children at their school, who kicked and punched them and called them “Ebola”.
The American-born boys, who returned from living in Senegal a month ago, were attacked last Friday. DNAinfo reported that 11-year-old Amadou Drame was set upon by his classmates during a lunch break, when his 13-year-old brother Pape tried to step in and help, but also became a victim to the violence.
The boys’ father picked up his sons, who were reportedly badly bruised, swollen and bleeding, and took them to hospital. They were released on the same day with minor injuries.
The attack follows weeks of harassment experienced by the boys at their school in the Bronx, New York.
“If they go to play in the gym, the kids tell them ‘Don’t touch the ball. If you touch the ball we will all get Ebola,” the boys’ father, Ousmane Drame, told DNAinfo.
The attack has been called a “hate crime” by New York’s senator Bill Perkins, Buzzfeed reported.
Speaking at a press conference at the Association of Senegalese in America, Mr Perkins said that Ebola is a “bullying crisis” in New York’s public and charter schools.
“Our mayor needs to take some steps so that children in our public schools know what Ebola really is and don’t go and attack their fellow students,” he said.
The bullying around Ebola in New York schools has been put partly down to a lack of education about the deadly virus, highlighted by the fact that the World Health Organisation declared Senegal Ebola-free in mid-October.
In the UK, a nine-year-old British-Sierra Leonean boy was denied his annual attendance at a school in Stockport after the “hysteria” created by parents in the area, because he lived predominantly in the West African country that has been overrun by the virus.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments