This article was originally published on Examiner.com on June 22, 2012.
The town of Greece, N.Y., population 100,000, has put out a press release condemning the behavior of the teens featured in this now viral video viciously taunting 68-year-old grandmother Karen Klein. It also appears that the city has closed down their official Facebook page, likely because of the media frenzy that they are currently dealing with.
It seems as if the boys will not be having the last laugh, as Karen Klein has now received over $530,000 in donations from people all over the world to send her ‘on the vacation of a lifetime.’ With a surplus of cash like that, she will be able to go on a vacation and live the rest of her life worry free.
The teen boys and their families are said to have been suffering severe harassment over the incident, with over 1,000 phone calls and text messages being left. To add to this severity the Greece police department is looking into this incident and the boys behavior for any possible criminal penalties.
This story is far from over.
For Immediate Release
June 21, 2012
Statement from Greece Town Supervisor John Auberger Regarding
Video of Incident on board Greece Central School District Bus“The Town of Greece offices have been inundated with phone calls and emails regarding the incident aboard a Greece Central School District bus. We have received phone calls from not only our own concerned residents but also residents from across the state and nation. We too are outraged by the behavior of this group of students and want to emphasize that the actions of a few do not reflect our community as a whole.
The Town of Greece is a community of nearly 100,000, comprised of people who are kind, respectful neighbors and hardworking people. Greece Central School District is one of three districts which serve our community. All three districts have extraordinary students who are doing great things inside and outside the classroom on a daily basis.
The Greece Central School District and the Greece Police Department are working together to obtain evidence and review all of the information so that appropriate action will be taken in this dreadful incident. The Greece Police Department, the Monroe County District Attorney’s office and the victim will make the final determination as to whether or not any criminal charges will be filed now or in the future. With regard to disciplinary actions, the Town Government does not have jurisdiction over Greece Central School District with regard to any resulting discipline, those determinations rest solely with the District and the School Board.
I want to also take this opportunity to commend Karen Klein for her strength and courage in having to endure such treatment. Her response to their bullying is an example of the type of people that make our community great. The outpouring of care and concern that she has received from our community toward her is indicative of the depth and breadth of this great Town, not the actions of those aboard Bus 784.”