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By The Related Press
SOUTHWICK, Mass. (AP) — Investigators in Massachusetts are pursuing felony costs towards six teenagers who they are saying participated in “a hateful, racist on-line chat that included heinous language, threats, and a mock slave public sale.”
A bunch on Snapchat was created in a single day from Feb. 8 by way of Feb. 9 by a bunch of eighth grade college students within the city of Southwick, Massachusetts, situated about 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of Boston, in response to investigators.
In the course of the chat, some contributors expressed hateful and racist feedback, together with eager to commit acts of violence towards individuals of shade, racial slurs, derogatory footage and movies, and a mock slave public sale directed at two specific college students, investigators mentioned.
Snapchat servers are designed to robotically delete all one-on-one messages and group chats after they’ve been considered by all recipients, in response to the corporate’s web site. Nonetheless, the corporate warns that those that see messages can probably save them, whether or not by taking a screenshot or one other image-capture expertise.
On Friday, Feb. 9, the existence of the group chat was reported to highschool authorities. The next Monday, six college students have been suspended from Southwick Regional College. On the identical day, native police knowledgeable the Hampden District Legal professional’s Workplace in regards to the posts.
One of many college students has been charged with interference with civil rights, threatening to commit against the law and witness interference. A second participant has been charged with interference with civil rights and threatening to commit against the law. The remaining 4 have every been charged with threatening to commit against the law.
The identities of the six teenagers weren’t disclosed as a result of their age. The costs have been filed in juvenile court docket.
Hampden District Legal professional Anthony Gulluni mentioned he met personally with the recognized victims and their households.
“Hatred and racism don’t have any place on this group. And the place this habits turns into felony, I’ll be certain that we act,” Gulluni mentioned in a written assertion.
“There is no such thing as a query that the alleged habits of those six juveniles is vile, merciless, and contemptible. Seeing it, and dealing with the fact that these ideas, that this ugliness, can exist inside center faculty college students, right here, on this group, in 2024 is discouraging, unsettling, and deeply irritating,” he added.
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